Emma Swan: Hey could you maybe chill?

The Entire World(s): How about maybe YOU chill?

Or, Rumpelstiltskin returns to try and ruin everything and the narrator definitely has opinions about that.

Alright *cracks knuckles* we've had our fluff, time for the pain. Warnings for canon typical violence, strong language, and to people who like Rumplestiltskin, as I am about to roast this Crocodile like a Christmas ham.


The course of true love never did run smooth.

-A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1 Scene 1

(This entire show in a nutshell)


Of course, with all good things that happen in Storybrooke, Rumpelstiltskin was waiting in the wings to ruin it, by:

Tricking them into releasing a giant fuck-off hellbeast that terrorized the town.

"Mim." Regina growled, looking over at the shape-shifter.

"Don't look at me," the purplette defended. "You think I wanted to release an ancient demon that literally feeds on evil? I haven't exactly spent the past two centuries tending to orphans, as you might recall."

Bringing the Queens of Darkness to Storybrooke in order to help him darken the Savior's heart, so they can undo all of the happy endings and get their own. Oh, and last but not least

Impersonating one Killian Jones in order to continue to lie to and manipulate his wife, and get his hands back on the dagger

"So you're over him then, Rumplestiltskin?"

"I don't know if I can ever really be over him, but for now, Maeve makes me smile."

(That's what you get for snooping, you snoopy snoop)

It was Regina who discovered that Gold had returned to Storybrooke, warning the others that whatever he's planning, it was bad. (And that's by the Evil Queen's standards). So of course, the Charmings tried to put the Dark One in check, only to discover that he was one step ahead of them.

"The dagger," Emma insisted. "We need it so we can end this fight before it starts."

"The dagger...I don't have the dagger Killian does." All eyes turned towards him, to which the pirate was genuinely baffled.

"What, me? I haven't seen that cursed blade since you commanded the Crocodile to leave the first time."

"You took it from me last night, to hide it where no one could find it." Belle tried to insist.

But, no, as much as that sounds like something he might do, Killian hadn't seen the librarian at all yesterday. A growing suspicion formed in his mind, and one that he very much didn't like. "After the lifetimes I've spent searching for a way to destroy the Dark One, I'm pretty certain I'd remember holding that dagger in my hand."

"Okay, then if I didn't give it to you, then-"

"You gave it to Gold, disguised as you," Emma put together, turning towards Killian. "He's back, and so is his power."

The brunette's body language fell immediately "Even when I didn't think he could deceive me any more, he found a way." She murmured, gaze lowering to the glass countertop.

Maeve placed a comforting hand on Belle's shoulder, bringing her girlfriend in for a half-hug. Killian's already rousing irritation boiled up into a protective anger at seeing his friend once more heartbroken over her ex-husband's repeated betrayals and lies.

"Banishment was too good for that demon," he seethed, "we should've driven that dagger through his heart when we had a chance."

"Then your name would be written across it." Emma reminded, voice firm but not hostile.

"A small price to pay to ensure the Crocodile wouldn't come back again." The pirate insisted, remembering all the ways Rumplestiltskin could hurt his enemies. Not again, not them, not Emma.

"I know you're angry, but we defeated him before and we'll do it again."

Mary Margaret worried her lip. "The question is how, we don't even know what he's planning."

"First we save August," her husband reminded, as the former wooden man-child was now in the grasp of the Queens of Darkness, likely being tortured for information about the Author.

"Yeah, you do that," Killian added, "I'll find out the Dark One's secret."

"How are you going to do that?"

"The sea witch...Ursula." He sighed. "Remember when I said I had a past with her? Now's the time to use it."

"How?" Ema asked.

"By taking a page out of your book, Swan. I'm going to return her happy ending."

From behind the counter, Maeve raised an eyebrow in doubt, but said nothing. The sheriff seemed to share in her hesitance, asking "Can you...really do that?"

"Aye. Because I'm the one who took it from her in the first place."


"How could I have been so stupid?" the librarian sniffled, wiping at her face. "I thought something was off with Killian, but I ignored it. He tricked me again."

"You're not stupid," Maeve comforted, keeping Belle wrapped up in a hug. "You're the smartest person I know."


"I do hope we're not interrupting," Killian greeted a few hours later, after Belle had calmed down. "But we're in need of the madam's assistance." He informed, marching into the pawn shop with Ursula in tow.

Belle raised an eyebrow. "And how do I know you're really Killian?"

"Oh now you decide to question my identity?" He sassed, knowing the Crocodile's acting skills couldn't have been that good. Even when holding the pirate's heart his imitation had been stiff and unnatural.

"If he were the Dark One, lover girl over here would already be dead." Ursula added.

Mim smiled tight. (She lightly sniffed the air, the Dark One's glamours are good but they never cover scent) "Fair point. How can I be of assistance?"

"The key to getting rid of the Dark One is in here," he held up the glass bottle containing the shrunken down Jolly Roger. The purplette leaned forward to get a better look. "Is that...your ship?" She glanced up at him, eyes mischievous. "A bit small, isn't it?"

"Careful mate, it's unwise to insult the size of a pirate's ship."

"Why? Are we overcompensating for something?" She leaned back up with a smirk.

Killian rolled his eyes. "You know more about transformation magic than anyone else in Storybrooke, including how to change your size. You've also an expert in potion craft, you must have or can make something that can restore it."

She tilted her head back and forth, thinking. With a smile, she looked back and met his eyes. "You're in luck, I have just the thing to help."


He had done it, reunited Ursula with her father Poseidon, gaining insight into the Crocodile's plans...and Killian Jones needed a drink. Story of his life, really. He sat by the docks, flask in hand, trying to figure out a way to explain this all to Emma.

"You have no idea how easy it is to fall back into the darkness…"

"Worse, he plans to fill her heart with darkness. Forever."

In order to get his happy ending, the one he had so callously thrown away by lying to and betraying Belle, Rumpelstiltskin was going after the woman Killian loved. Oh how history repeats himself. The pirate mused. He lost Bae, takes it out on Milah. He lost Belle, takes it out on Emma...and the whole bloody town… He takes another swig of his flask, disappointed to find it empty so quickly.

That was when he heard footsteps approaching. Turning, he noticed the outline of a certain familiar shapeshifter in the light of the streetlamps.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here, Mim?" He questioned, not in the mood for whatever childish innuendo or smart-arse comment the purplette would likely pester him with.

The witch smiled. "Well, officially, I just happen to be walking by the docks, and I just happen to have a bottle of rum with me. Unofficially…" she tilted her head, "my thoughtful and insightful lady love thought you might want someone to talk to, given everything that's happened. Not to mention our particular kind of shared life experience…" she trailed off.

Half a dozen barbs were at the tip of Killian's tongue. Telling her to go away, how he didn't need the witch's pity...except...Maybe he didn't want to be alone. Maybe he wanted to talk to someone who might...possibly understand. In the end, he said nothing, and Mim took it as a sign to sit down on the other side of the bench, placing the bottle and two glasses between them.

"So...am I allowed to ask what happened between you and the sea witch?" Mim asked, pouring them both a drink. "You did mention something before about taking away her happy ending, and as dirty as my mind is…" She remembered herself, and took a sip of her drink.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. "I'm going to need a lot more rum to share that particular tale," he downed the glass, not looking at her. "But suffice it to say it was because of me that Ursula became that fearsome sea-witch."

Mim hummed in thought. "So, you're part of her whole 'supervillain origin story'." the shapeshifter commented. "Yikes, to say the least."

That was coming from a woman with her own seedy history, as far as he could tell. She had the look in her eyes of someone who had battled with their own darkness, and had their own kind of regrets.

"That's the thing isn't it?" He mused, more to himself than to her. "It's one thing to give into the darkness. Quite another to drag someone down into that pit with you." He took a drink of his rum. Captain Hook had encountered many a vile creature in his voyages, and because of what he did to Ursula, that sweet mermaid turned into one of them. Now, the Crocodile was planning on doing the same with the Savior. Emma was strong, he knew this...but that didn't make the storm inside go away. Didn't make the fear release the choke-hold around his throat.

The witch hummed. "Fair, fair. Although, I would point out that as much as others may drive us to that particular cliff...poking, prodding, threatening...the choice to jump in is always our own." The pirate glanced over to his companion, who was staring ahead onto the shoreline as she took another sip of rum. "You made a choice, in hindsight a probably horrible choice, but so did she."

A realization struck him, about how little he actually knew about the woman sitting next to him. He knew her name, he knew her power, he know of her father...but nothing really about her. "Speaking from experience are we?" He carefully ventured.

She looked back at him, an assessing look on her face. Madam Mim let out a small chuckle. "Oh no, I am far too sober to tell you about that particular downward spiral. And we're not nearly good enough friends."

"...Friends?"

The witch shrugged. "I find that I actually like you a bit, when you're not imprisoning my father in magical hats."

"And when you're not trying to strangle me." He countered. She chuckled.

"To Captain Hook and Madam Mim," she raised her glass. "Two absolutely vile villains who decided to try and climb back up out of that darkness, and at least stop being such heartless bastards." She smiled (he'd noticed that, how she smiled and laughed as a way to protect herself, using it like armor).

Killian clinked his glass to hers. "Cheers."

"Thank you...Maeve." He acknowledged, as they parted ways.

She shrugged. "Hey, it's what I'm here for. That and dick jokes."


Maeve stayed over at Belle's house that night. That was good, right? Or was that too fast? The witch certainly had no clue, being much more interested in her girlfriend's safety and watching to see if the Dark One would try to contact his ex-wife.

Guard duty was blessedly uneventful, and now the purplette was attempting to make them breakfast. Orange juice, eggs, bacon...she went over to the toaster. Oh goody, the toast was stuck. Maeve pulled out a butter knife. Danger, here she comes.

But before she could get herself electrocuted, Belle suddenly got up from the counter and walked towards the door, shrugging on her coat.

"Uh...going somewhere? I thought we were going to have breakfast."

"I need to go." She responded, stiff and a little unlike her. "Out...on a walk."

Maeve narrowed her eyes. Okay, what the fuck?


Belle met Rumplestiltskin at the well, at the place that they had been married not too long ago.

He told her the truth, about his blackened heart, about how the Author is the only one who can help him. His wife confessed that she wondered if she threw away the chipped tea cup too soon, and they kissed. For a moment, Rumpelstiltskin was sure that this would work, that he could make everything better.

But then: "Maeve is just such a better kisser than you are," the librarian informed, voice...unnatural. Rumple's brow knit in confusion.

"You're so pathetic...coming groveling back to me like a dog begging for scraps." Belle...Belle wasn't the type of person to say things like that. What was going on?

"This isn't like you, Belle."

"But it is so like me." Regina stepped out of the shadows. "Now forget all this and run along home." The mayor instructed, and Belle obeyed, walking along like a good little marionette.

She really is her mother's daughter, the Dark One had to admit. Finding and exploiting weaknesses.


"How was your walk?" the purplette asked, placing the plate of eggs and toast in front of her girlfriend.

Belle blinked. "Uh...good, I guess? I needed the fresh air, and a chance to clear my head." The witch nodded, but still knew that something was off. The whole...wrongness tugged at her in a way that she couldn't quite explain, but didn't want to press the matter until she could figure out what had happened.

Later, Maeve was walking to the pawn shop, having grabbed them biscuits for afternoon tea. She caught a whiff of a very recognizable, very particular scent. And then she knew exactly what happened.


"Alright, where is it?" Madam Mim asked, barging into the mayor's office.

Regina barely glanced up from her work. "Where's what?"

"Belle's heart. I could smell it all over you earlier, so don't even bother lying to me."

"You can smell enchanted hearts?" The mayor raised an eyebrow. Now the third rate hex actually had her attention.

"A person's heart smells like them, mixed with magic and blood." Mim explained, waving her hand. "Now, as you obviously didn't get a blood transfusion from her, that made what happened rather obvious." She glanced down at Regina's hands. "Also, I know it's in here, I'm just being polite by asking for it."

The mayor leaned back in her chair. "What if I say no?"

"Then I'll have to take it from you." Mim shrugged, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. It didn't even sound like a threat, just...passing along information.

Regina laughed. "I'd like to see you try, swamp witch." She sneered. "Yes, I have your girlfriend's heart. With Rumplestiltskin back, I needed something to hold over him, something to ensure he doesn't just decide to kill us all in one fell swoop."

"And does Belle know about it?" She challenged, tilting her head.

She crossed her arms, only briefly looking away. "Belle doesn't need to concern herself with this. Don't worry, I'll give it back when this is all over. Until then, you'll just have to keep your mouth shut and let me handle Rumplestiltskin."

The madam pursed her lips. "Mmm...no."

"No?" Regina blinked. "Well too bad. That heart is staying where it is."

The shapeshifter huffed, "and here I'd hoped we could settle this the easy way."

"You want it?" Come-" She felt something splash along the front of her blazer, and Regina was suddenly frozen in place. Squid ink, she realized. Mim put a small glass vial back into her pocket, and gently sniffed the air around the mayor's desk.

She wasted squid ink on this? The Evil Queen fumed. She could be using it against Gold or-Wait a second.

Madam Mim was a shapeshifter, a witch with the very, very rare magical ability to take on the form of any animal at will. That would include giant squids.

Opening up a hidden compartment on the desk, Madam Mim retrieved the box containing Belle's red, beating heart. "And I'll be taking that back." She looked up, meeting the gaze of the frozen, furious mayor. "Nothing personal, but I don't trust you. Wait, I guess that was personal." The smug smile on her face made Regina extra extra irritated, and she struggled against the squid ink paralysis. "Oh, don't look so irritated, your highness, I'm sure you're clever enough to make the Dark One think you still have Belle's heart. In the meantime, I'll be putting this back where it belongs." Tucking the box beneath her arm, she left the mayor's office.

Closing the door behind her, Maeve pulled out her cellphone. "Father? It's me. I'm going to need your help with something…"


The door to the pawn shop opened, and Belle smiled at noticing the familiar head of black-purple hair.

"There you are." She brightened. "Brought you dinner from Granny's." Belle informed, gesturing to the to-go bag.

Maeve smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you, darling. But as delicious as that smells, there's something I need to show you." The witch sobered, carefully pulling out a box. Belle blinks down at the sight of a bright red heart. A hand flew to her chest, and the worst case scenario flashed from her mind.

"Is that-"

"Yours." her girlfriend nods. "Regina took it. Wanted to use you as leverage over the Dark One." she huffed, obviously displeased with the Evil Queen's methods. "I objected rather strenuously once I realized what had happened, and thought it best to retrieve it."

That was...a lot to take in, and Belle was frightened by the fact that she couldn't even remember her heart being taken, or anything else being wrong.

"I thought it best to ask first," She pulled a vial out of her pocket, containing a small blue liquid. "This is something that will protect your heart, making sure no one will ever be able to use it to control you ever again. And if someone ever tries…" She smiled. "Let's just say they'll be in for a nasty surprise."

The librarian blinked, having to sort through a whole mess of information she'd just been handed. "Not that I'm not grateful but...why? You go my heart back...why go to the extra trouble of protecting it? I'm not powerful like you, or Regina or Emma…"

"Because there's always the possibility of there being someone else." She shrugged. "Someone who tries to get to your ex-husband through you, or...lord who knows what else. Besides, our madam mayor could stand to be taken down a peg or too every now and then."

"You fought Regina?" She realized, piecing together that Maeve hadn't simply broken into the mayor's office and grabbed it back, but had instead confronted the Evil Queen for it.

Another shrug. "Wasn't really a fight per sey. I may not be able to throw fireballs or teleport like other witches...but what I can do, I do really, really well." Maeve smiled. "Plus, it helps that I'm familiar with the form of a certain cephalopod that's quite useful for dealing with spellcasters."

Belle blinked. "Wait, you can produce squid ink?"

"Yep," Maeve said, popping the 'p' and pulling the stopper out of the vial and handing it over to Belle. "Now, shall we?"

Belle gently took the potion. It was blue, and felt warm in her hand. "Of course." The librarian sprinkled the magic over her heart and felt that same warmth spread over her heart. It wasn't invasive, but comforting, like being hugged by someone you loved. The blue magic surrounded the red heart, forming a kind of...chainmail around it. But then the magic faded, and Belle's heart looked like any other enchanted heart.

"There we go," Maeve smiles, looking down at the heart. "Now, no one can control you...and if they try, they'll be burned by the protection spell."

"Thank you."

Maeve looked at her, a gentle smile and a fond look in her eyes that made Belle's heart flutter, even though the organ still wasn't in her chest. "Really, it's no problem, darling." She assured, completely genuine. "Besides, as someone who rather admires that kind heart of yours, I would absolutely loathe for it to be used against you."

The brunette was half-mesmerized by the look of pure, soft adoration on her girlfriend's face, and thought that perhaps, one day, the witch would hold her heart in a much less literal sense.

(You know, if she hadn't already.)


"Hold on a minute, Mim can produce squid ink?" Mary Margaret asked. After said squid ink had worn off, the first thing Regina had done was call the Charmings.

The mayor glowered. Not only had she been humiliated in her own office, but the squid ink had also stained her blazer. "Unfortunately, yes. It appears her...unique transformation magic gives her a very distinct advantage over other spellcasters." She pursed her lips. "That makes her very powerful to us as an enemy..."

"Now hold on a minute, Mim may a bit...eccentric…" David spoke up over the conference call.

"She's basically the unholy offspring of a lighter and a can of hairspray, but continue."

"But she's never done anything to hurt us, hell she didn't even use the squid ink until you refused to hand over Belle's heart." David continued. "I think we have bigger problems to worry about right now."


(Oh, and let us not forget the other massive betrayal and general all around dickishness Rumplestiltskin pulled: using the Author to rewrite everyone's stories, therefore fucking with everyone's lives and free wills in order to get the Happy Ending he had done absolutely nothing to earn. Himself cast as the valiant hero, with Belle as his loving, obedient housewife. And being perfectly okay with the woman he claimed to 'love' being brainwashed into acting that way. You know, True Love and all that.)

(Snow White and Prince Charming were the new Evil Queen and her Huntsman, Regina was a thief on the run, Killian a cowardly deckhand in service to Blackbeard, and Emma locked away as a madwoman in a tower.)

(Luckily, the day was saved by Henry, stealing a car, navigating the reverse Enchanted Forest all on his own, knocking out Blackbeard, and rescuing his mother. Emma helped save the day by being her general boss ass bitch self, and Killian helped as well, the supposedly cowardly deckhand being twice as courageous as the Dark One could even pretend to be and deciding that he was literally ride or die for two people he met a couple hours ago).

(Hey, you were warned about the narrator having opinions)


Well that was fucking weird. Maeve sat up off the floor of the pawn shop, trying to shake off the aftereffects of...whatever the hell that was. She'd been locked away in a castle dungeon, muzzled, chained, and barely unable to string a coherent thought together. Then she'd been running through the Enchanted Forest, intent on tracking down some kind of scent?

Not important right now. She looked up, and found Belle nearby. She was leaning over Rumplestiltskin's unconscious body….and his heartbeat was growing fainter and fainter. While normally Maeve would callously think 'good riddance' the Dark One dying now in this way could not be good for any of them.


Michael appeared not long after, with the rest of the Charming family in tow. (The pawn shop was getting more than a little crowded).

"Father, I know the Dark One is a right bastard, but-" Maeve looked towards Belle, and sucked in a deep breath. "You were the one who taught me that saving people has nothing to do if they deserve it."

The Apprentice looked at his daughter, and nodded. He took out the box that contained the Sorcerer's Hat, and kneeled down next to Rumplestiltskin.

"He tried to use the hat to free himself from the dagger," Killian recalled, watching the proceedings with understandably mixed emotions.

"This is not unlike that," Michael added. "We're pulling the Darkness from him and containing it."

"Does that mean his heart will be healed?" Belle asked, not wanting Rumple to die, despite everything he's done.

Michael and Maeve shared a look. "Perhaps," the man cautioned. "If the strength is there."

"Honestly...we have no bloody clue." Maeve sighed. "Nothing like this has ever been done before."

"And this is more dark power than the hat has ever been asked to contain." With Emma's encouragement to do what has to be done, the Sorcerer's Apprentice begins to chant an incantation.

"Purest evil, blackest bloom,

Darkness, too, can find its doom."

With an uncomfortable 'squish' he reached down and pulled out the Dark One's heart. It really was completely black, with only a single speck of red left.

Well, that checks out. Emma couldn't help but think. The Apprentice pulled out the hat.

"Never dying, but contained,

Bound inside the falcon's chamber,

Shorn of anger, thornless danger,

There forever to remain."

He held the hat to Rumplestiltskin's heart-his black, charred, pathetic excuse for a heart-and started to vacuum up the inky darkness within. The dagger glowed, and Rumplestiltskin's name was no longer on the blade.

Kneeling down, Michael placed the newly cleared heart back inside Rumplestiltskin's chest.

"He's barely breathing," Belle worried her lip, gently placing a hand over her ex-husband's chest. (Killian didn't miss the look on Maeve's face, the shapeshifter was...conflicted to say the least)

"Rumpelstiltskin was the Dark One for centuries," Michael tried to explain. "A living, former Dark One is...as my daughter said, unprecedented." He waved his hand, and a shimmer of magic covered the unconscious man's form. "This will preserve him, until we discern if we can help him."

"'If?'" the librarian asked, looking up.

But before they could have that conversation, the hat box began to glow. In a way that was literally impossible to be good.

"Everybody get down!" The shapeshifter called, covering Belle as the black magic swirled in the air around them. Angry, untethered, and likely to lash out at any one of them.

"No!" Maeve yelled, watching as the Darkness attempted to flood her father's body, forcing itself down his throat in an attempt to take its former captor over-or perhaps kill him.

Emma reacted quickly, using her light magic to push the untethered Dark One from out of the Apprentice. He collapsed to the ground, but the Darkness was pushed out.

But the Darkness just flew outside, having just been released upon an unsuspecting town.

"Mom, dad, go after it!" Emma ordered.

"Help me get him comfortable." Maeve insisted, carrying her father to the back of the shop with a strength that belied her small frame.


"What the hell was that?" Emma asked, once they had the old man settled The Apprentice opened his mouth to answer, but Maeve pipped up instead.

"The untethered Dark One." Maeve sighed, kneeling beside her father. "A long, long time ago the Sorcerer, Merlin, battled with the first Dark One, and bonded them to the dagger so the Darkness could be controlled. Now, without a human vessel to contain it, we've got an angry, sentient cloud of black magic swirling around that probably, definitely wants to kill, maim, destroy what have you."

"You must...stop...the Darkness…Find Merlin." Michael requested, closing his eyes. Maeve could feel the other two's eyes on her, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

"He's alive. Weak, but alive." She turned back to Emma. "Go! Do your Savior thing!"

The obeyed, racing out into the street.

A short time later, her father started to rouse again. "Maeve-"

"No. I'm not leaving you. Not again." She insisted, voice sharp and sure. "She's the Savior, she'll handle it."

Michael quieted, and the purplette was beginning to suspect he'd fallen asleep when he spoke again. "I'm sorry, Maeve."

"Sorry?" She asked, blinking. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

"I left you, all those years ago. Left you alone with the darkness in your own heart. That has been...my greatest regret." He sighed, placing a hand over hers.

The witch shook her head. "No, father, no. I was the one at fault. I was so... stubborn and foolish. I pushed you away." She gave a shaky exhale. "I was an idiot."

"You were hurting," the Apprentice countered. "I thought...I knew you could come back to the light, and that you would only do it on your own terms...but that's no excuse for leaving you alone."

"Alone to drink and fight and whore my way across the realms for decades." She sniffled. "Some daughter I turned out to be, right?" The witch looked away, sadly smiling. Michael cupped her cheek, and met his daughter's eye.

"A daughter who is one of the most brilliant and creative spellcasters I have ever had the honor to teach, and to raise...Who has had to overcome so much, including her own demons. I love you, Maeve, and I never stopped being proud of you."

"Stop that," she sniffled. "You're making it sound like this is some kind of...big goodbye."

The Apprentice just smiled, sadness lurking in his eyes.


Outside, things weren't going much better. In fact, it was a lot more shouty and chaotic, to say the least.

A swirling vortex of doom, gloom, and angry dark magic was circling Regina.

"What the hell is it doing?" Robin demanded.

"Doing what darkness does," Emma guessed, "snuffing out the light."

Robin rushed forward in an attempt to save the woman he loved, but he was thrown back like he was so much a ragdoll.

The Savior had an idea. A bad idea, a really...really bad idea. But she was doing it.

Despite the words of Regina, her parents...Killian...Killian...

She couldn't do this without making sure she told him. Saying it to Neal when she thought he was dying had been easy, in its own way, but this? She had no idea what was going to come after this, who or what she was going to turn into.

"I love you." She said, pressing her forehead to his, and them pushed him away. (Story of her life, really)

Emma Swan plunged the dagger into the vortex of black magic, and let the Darkness take her. A grunt of pain as it crawled over her skin like thorns, digging its way into her body and her heart.

The Savior was swept up in a vortex of evil, with the dagger falling to the street below with a clang.

Emma Swan


Just a lost little girl, who didn't think she mattered…

He's not coming back

I can't be a mother!

Henry!

Give me back my son…

I just watched the man I love die.

Poking prodding, trying to find a way in...


Camelot

The Emma that emerged from the vault in Camelot was not the same Emma that was sucked up by the Darkness in Storybrooke. Her hair was damp, her eyes red, and her clothes going from a sensible sweater to off-grey dress and rough-spun robes. (Homegirl straight up looked like a witch that crawled her way out of a swamp.)

Emma Swan was lost, alone, and afraid.


Alright, we've made it! We are finally in Camelot. Well, Emma's in Camelot, at least. Now we just need to get everybody else there...

Also...do you hate me…?

Next time: we meet King Arthur! That shady, shady king…

As always, if you have any thoughts/questions/concerns, or just want to scream your feelings at me, just comment below and let me know.