Magic

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.

No, I haven't forgotten about this story. :) That being said, it should be a while before I update it again. Lent starts this week, and I really try to limit my fanfiction during that period. Hopefully I'll be back at the end of Apirl or the beginning of May.

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"But I've been practicing longer," said Neal with a smug expression that didn't look right on his face. He looked too much like Dad. And Emma had never seen Dad appear smug or arrogant.

"That doesn't matter," Emma said, feeling something build inside her as she stared at her brother. She really hated that expression on his face. "Dad says I have a natural talent for sword – fighting."

"Maybe, but I'm still better," Neal insisted, with that stupid expression still covering his face. "Boys are always better than girls at sword – fighting."

Emma's anger exploded at that comment.

"How dare you!" she shouted. Before she could think further, energy poured out of her hands, pushing her brother to the ground with a force Emma didn't know she was capable.

Shocked, she turned and ran out of the courtyard as fast as she could. She ran past the stables and the gardens, her long blond hair blowing in her face. But she didn't even pause to fix it. Emma had to leave, before she hurt someone else she cared about.

What had happened? How come it had never happened before? How could Emma prevent it from happening again?

Without thinking, she climbed over the castle wall.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Johanna?" Emma asked, trying to sound more confident than she felt as she approached the cottage. Her feet had taken her here without realizing it. Still, Emma wasn't so sure it was a good idea to approach her mother's old nursemaid. What if she hurt Johanna like she'd hurt Neal?

Johanna's hair was becoming whiter every year. And although Johanna insisted she was still fit enough to look after her home and her large garden, it seemed to Emma that she moved slower and slower as well. If Emma's strange energy pushed Johanna, the older woman might not get back up again.

Emma hid behind a large section of sage plants, the lavender blossoms hiding her face, as she spoke again. "Johanna? Are you here?"

"Princess Emma!" said the older woman's voice from behind the other side of the cottage. "It has been so long, my dear." She walked steadily toward Emma's voice, but Emma couldn't help but notice how worn her face appeared. Were her bones creaking as she walked, too, or was that just the rustling of leaves?

Emma took a step backwards, her feet landing on the plants with a soft crunch. "Don't come any closer Johanna! I'm dangerous." She held her hands tightly together.

"Now I'm sure that's not true, dear," Johanna said with a gentle smile. She looked around for a moment. "Where are your parents? And the rest of your family? I thought you liked to play hide – and – seek in the garden with your brothers."

Emma shook her head. "They didn't come. Like I said, I'm too dangerous to be around them. You should see what I did to Neal today!"

Johanna smiled, looking sweet and naïve. "Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll recover dear. Your brother is tough, from what I've seen and heard."

"Not this time," Emma said, her voice made no room for argument. "I don't know how it happened, but a powerful energy came out of me and pushed Neal to the ground. It was bad, Johanna. I think maybe it was… magic," she whispered the last word, horrified as she finally realized what must have happened.

"I'm going to become like the Evil Queen." Images of the horrible woman that her parents had talked about using magic flashed through her head. Spying on people with her mirrors, manipulating the trees to capture victims in the forest, and most of all causing her mother to fall into that horrible Sleeping Curse just by biting into an apple.

Would Emma someday do the same? She'd already caused her brother harm; the evil magic would probably take over soon enough. Her mother was pregnant again. What might her evil magic do to her mother and her new sibling?

"No, Princess Emma," Johanna's words cut through her thoughts. "You are nothing like the Evil Queen. You are the prefect blend of your parents. Strong, brave, loyal to your family, and always trying to make the kingdom better."

"But I'm not anymore," said Emma, shaking her head so fast her blond hair fell all over her face. Once again, she ignored it. "I have magic, and I hurt Neal. What if I hurt Mom and the new baby?"

"You hurt your brother by accident, princess," said Johanna's gentle voice. "You would never hurt him on purpose, like the Evil Queen did to so many people. Magic doesn't have to be evil. I'm sure you realize the fairies use it, too, to grant deserving people."

Emma's mind flashed to the dwarves, mining the fairy dust which fairies used to help people in need. "I suppose."

"Now am I mistaken, or do your parents not realize where you are?" Johanna's voice lost its gentle quality at this statement and her eyes stared at Emma sternly.

Emma stared at the ground, studying the lavender flowers surrounding her and the grass beneath feet. After a moment, she lifted her head up and said, "no."

"Then I suggest you be the strong, brave princess I know you are and return to the castle."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Both of her parents enveloped Emma into their arms as soon as they saw her. "Oh, Emma we were so worried about you!" Mom exclaimed her slightly rounded tummy bumping against Emma.

She didn't seem to scare either of them.

"Emma, you know you aren't supposed to run away!" her six – year old brother, James said, coming up behind their parents. He wagged his finger at her like one of their tutors would when they misbehaved.

"Did Neal tell you what I did? That I hurt him?" Emma asked, trying to appear less nervous than she was. You're strong and brave, princess. Like both of your parents, Johanna's voice rang in her ears.

Dad pulled his face away from her but his arms still clutched Emma tightly, filling her heart with his love. "He said it appears you have magic. We don't know how it happened, but you'll both have to learn to control it somehow."

Emma nodded. She had no idea how she could learn to control her magic, but at least her parents hadn't rejected her and didn't seem at all afraid of her.

Wait. "Dad did you say both..."

Mom and Dad eyes met at the same time and smiled. "Yes."

Emma's eyes widened as she saw her brother flying through the air.

Neal landed on the top of the castle wall with a large thud. "Yes, Emma we both have magic. And I bet I can learn it faster than you can!"

I hope you'll give me a review for this one.

Here's the responses to the last reviews.

Austenphile: It was kind of irresponsible of Snow, but that being said, that chapter was meant to be funny. Like Snow would ever want the knight to take Charming's place. Not. :)

Baratta Jennifer: Thank you.

Bloomandgrow: Sorry that chapter was confusing for you. I guess it is based on an almost inside – joke on the show.