I apologize for the impossibly long wait, I had the most extreme writers block. I tried to write this chapter and had to scratch the first four drafts. Hopefully this is better. I love that I have some reviews I want to hear everything, even the negative so I can improve. This chapter I'm experimenting with snow white and hook. Thank you to everyone who has followed me this far.

Yep, I still don't own anything

"That's all you saw?" I ask Ruby after she morosely finished telling me of what she had seen that night of Mr Gold and the alleged grave robbing. She nodded, her eyes cast down

"I had to tell you. Who knows what Gold is cooking up since Neal died, he's dangerous when he's hurt." My heart seized up and that little part of me that still loved and belonged to Neil felt so broken when I hear about how Gold had been in his grave.

"Thank you." I replied quickly. "I will do a follow up report and let you know." She left the station with her head down. I sense their is more she isn't telling me and I suspect that Gold didn't go alone to the cemetery and dug up Neil's grave. I know their was someone with him. She would twitched every time I brought up my suspicions.

"Good morning Ruby." David said happily walking through the door and passing a solemn Ruby who barely glanced up at him. He carried a box in and from the bright blue packaging, I could tell was from the bakery.

"I though some sugar would help us in this crystal crisis." I snorted. I wouldn't call this a crisis. Then again between David and Mary Margaret I'm not sure who is more melodramatic.

"Well, first off we need to know what's included in this sacrifice." I reply, anxiously tapping at the table. "Maybe you want someone who knows the underwater realm." Ariel said smiling as she appeared in the doorway, walking in with her hand gently clasped to her purse.

"You know about Atlantis?" I felt my face light up at her indication.

She blew a piece of hair from her eye and continued. "When Atlantis sunk I traveled to their realm. I know a bit about it from Kida's family." I gazed at her, my full attention on her as I resisted the urge to interrupt and ask who Kida is.

"Okay, little mermaid, what do you know?" She daintily took a seat. "Well, you can't offer just anyone to the crystal."

"You mean the sacrifice won't accept just anyone?" I ask her. Charming crossed his arm and wrinkled his brows in puzzlement.

"Okay, so how will we know who the crystal wants?" He asked her. She shrugged. "You won't. The crystal will make the chose and that person will just know."

She got up to leave, looking at us one last time and I could see that she didn't want to tell me that the crystal has only chosen royalty. "My friend." She choked. "Kida, she was chosen by this crystal. This isn't a blessing or a honor. it's something that this town is all to familiar with. A curse."

I shared a look with my father. "What do you mean?" He said curiously. "I mean, yes, it will protect this town. But at what cost? Because, whoever the sacrifice is, they are gonna have to pay it."

She stared at me with sympathy."Last person chosen was a princess, don't let that be the case again Emma." With that she stood, walked through the station and shut the door behind her.

I turned to David with more determination than ever. "We need to find Gold."

David grasped my arm as I started for the door. "Emma, I think we should talk to the fairies. Gold shouldn't be trusted. " I stared intently into his eyes. "Gold is the only person with the power to stop these things from entering Storybrooke. I'm going to take my chances."

"He went in to Neal's grave last night, " he gestured to the door. " I know you Emma and I know you just want to get out there and question him." I pulled out my car keys. "You have your reasons, I have mine. Besides, we still have to file a report." I walked out the station, David following me closely behind.

After hurriedly getting in my car we drove down the street with some classical mush playing on the radio. I clipped the song midway. David laughed. "You didn't like that song?"

"No." I said sarcastically. "I didn't like the whole CD." Suddenly I felt a rumble vibrating through the steering wheel. I turned to Charming and seeing his wide-eyes I could tell he felt it too. The whole car rocked in jitters, making us gasp and forcing me to jerk the car to a stop. Earthquake, I thought as I pulled the car to the side. I heard screams, turning my head I saw people running from the buildings. We definitely need a better emergency plan with how often this happens.

Charming leaped into action the moment the car stopped, he moved through the crowd shouting. "Get out of the way!"

"Swan, what's going on.?" Regina yelled, appearing at my side.

"How would I know? " I returned. The earth rocked again under foot and slowly I felt the ground splitting. I looked down stepping over the crack that was appearing under me. Heat and smoke emitted from the crack. The crack ran down the street, all the way to the nearest building, making the front of the ice cream shop crumbled down before us. The shaking gave once last rumble than slowed down to barely a vibration before it stopped completely. I walked up to David as he was helping a person with their ankle. When he saw me approaching he took a step back, a slightly confused expression on his face. Regina stared at me, her face pinched in deep concentration.

I returned with a glare. "Take a picture, it will last longer Swan."

Regina hissed. "Don't think I don't realize you had something to do with this."

She laughed at me, tossing back a piece of raven hair. "Oh, really Swan, that's what you want us all to believe. That I did this."

I gestured to the ground, filled with people struggling to their feet. "Only you would do something like this to get back at me. That quake started at my car."

She snarled at me. "One day Swan, everyone will know who you really are. I hope that I will be there to watch you fall."

I grinned. "You are going to be waiting a long time for that." She turned dramatically walking away from the damage, her back to me as she spoke. "I have a feeling It'll be a lot sooner than you think."

Snow.

I cradled my son to my chest as he raised his hands innocently, stretching out at the open air. As I watch him I think of how defenseless he is and how all i want for him is for him to have his best chance. I sighed, I had said the same thing with Emma. Unfortunately, that didn't not pan out as we expected. The door bell rang and I ran to it, clutching Neal to me.

"It's you." I said with little to no enthusiasm. The filthy pirate walked into my living room, ignoring my comment. His dark completion disrupting our bright little home."What do you want? I am busy"

He gestured at Neal. "Ah, love, I can see you can be quite busy with young babes attention. So I will make this quick. Where is the prince?"

"Not here."I replied quickly. "You may leave now." I hurried to open the door again. He, much to my dismay, decided to take a seat on one the bar stool and started absentmindedly playing with an apple could Emma see in him? I understand the appeal with Neal, but honestly Captain Hook is so dark and depressing.

"Well, alright then." I said awkwardly when he made it clear he was staying. "What else do you need?"

He got up and looked me dead in the eye, his dark eyes locked on me. I faced worst demons then him, he couldn't scare me. "That's a matter I hope you have good intentions towards" He whispered hoarsely. "Emma."

"I am appalled that you ask such a thing to her mother!" He gave that stupid grin. I felt the urge to take a step back, but I returned with a angry glare. "Aye, Let's say between the two of us you won't be winning mother of the year."

I placed Neal into his bed, facing the pirate with firm determination. "You can leave if you have anything else to say, because I won't hear it."

"A few of my men happened upon you and Regina in a ring-ling of the sorts about Emma. Fancy that her very mother and father consulting with her enemy."

"I am stunned." I shouted at him. "You question my parenting? You may leave!"

He leaned in close with the deviously look dancing in his eyes, I did take a step back this time. "Tell me once m'lady that you have no possession of a inner darkness."

I swear, first he comes in insults my parenting and now he wants to know how evil I am! "None at all. I am completely pure unlike you and Rumpelstiltskin." He jaw tightened. "That little bit of darkness, puts me in a higher scale of protection then you m'lady. " he glowered down at me. "Lass, that darkness I possess, it inclines me to do things fitting to myself. If Emma were in, say, danger would your innocent and pure heart fight to the bloody death? Would you have the ability to endanger or possibly kill to save her?"

I took a few steps from him and straightened my shirt. "There are other ways." I replied smartly. "People shouldn't jump to killing. "

"Aye, you wouldn't have the heart to rescue her. That's where I come out on top."I hissed at him. He is absurd to think I will believe anything he says. With one last dark glance at me he crossed the apartment and reached for the door handle, stopping before he walked out the door and saying "This curse, if it chooses Emma, will you save this town if it means she has to die?"

I froze up, unfortunately he knew of the crystal and the power it possesses. "There is always a different way. We just need time."

"Would you be the one to sacrifice her?" He yelled not turning to face me.

"If the little family I have left, my Neal and Charming were all I had left, I would want Emma so much. But, I would have to make a choice that Emma would also chose."

He turned to me with an evil glare in his eyes, his knuckles white gripping the door handle. "That's the thing, lass, I'm a selfish pirate." With that he closed the door stomping out of the apartment. I could hear his steps as he went. With a little shake I went to the coffee pot and poured me a cup. How could she love him? He was in no possession of goodness. She embodies everything good and he is definition of diabolical. He makes it seem like I want Emma to be the sacrifice, I don't want it, but, she would want to give herself for the town. I think I know my own daughter. I wouldn't want her to go, but what choice would we have? She has uncontrollable magical powers that could endanger everyone's lives and she knows it. The town is over 60 people and Emma is just one, I have to make the smart choice. No matter how much it hurts inside.

Henry.

I ran out of the auditorium as soon as the bell rang. I wanted to get home to my book since Moms got me searching the book for a sacrifice, which is pretty cool even though I haven't decided what I wanted to call the operation this time. I raced to the diner, getting there just in time for the hot apple pie to come out the oven.

I sat at a booth and pulled out the story book. Granny came over to my table. "Apple pie?" She asked me in a amused voice. "And hot cocoa with cinnamon." I injected happily.

"Sugar, sugar and more sugar, that's a wonderful diet. " She said sarcastically as she wrote it down and went to the counter to cook. I flipped the book in hand, knowing I wasn't familiar with the Atlantis story, yet, I still knew it would be in the book. The bell jingled above the door and I didn't bother looking up from my book until two men, who I hadn't seen before, passed me. One was a fat man, his face was bright red, and he was constantly pulling at the collar of his button up shirt. He smirked a sly grin that could put hair on your chest. Then hunching over to readjust his back I caught sight of the second stranger who was a very tall and thin man. He walked in with a blue suit, and biting his fingernails, as his eyes shifted around the room like darts.

"What it be boys?" Granny said, as they approached her.

The fat one laughed at her, as if he found her question funny. "One roommmmm." He drawled, his voice similar to a sarcastic school mate.

The tall one poked him in the rib and the squat one moaned. "Uh..uh.." The long one said talking very fast and nervously. "One...of your...uh... If..so..a...room?" He stuttered through the whole sentence, with his eyes darting around after each word.

Granny gave them a hard look, her eyes narrowed. "Follow me." I found myself thinking how there was something oddly familiar about those two strange characters as I watched them follow Granny through a door.

"Weird, right?" Ruby said placing the food in front of me. I had suddenly lost all my appetite.

"Who are they?" I asked her.

"No idea." She replied, turning to stare at the door the disappeared through. "Just came into town last night. A lot of people are coming out of no where. I hope someone has a plan to stop this."

"Oh, we got a plan." I boasted happily as I patted the book. She smiled and moved back to the counter. I studied the book for a few minutes before I decided to take a break and check my watch. 8 o clock. I still had time before curfew. I walked into the hotel section of Granny's and noticed how quiet it was right now. The whole town was starting to shut down about this time. Unless your a villain, this is your time to get up. I took a seat in the hallway.

"I told you that this would happen!" I heard my mom yell from down the hall. Getting up I moved to the source of the yelling, a slightly closed door. I figured mom must be on the phone with someone.

"Well, we have to take care of the problem. David, you saw what she did today."

I could barely hear David's voice on the phone as he replied. "You are not laying a hand on my daughter!" He said firmly through the line, anger coating his voice. Emma. What's going on with Emma? I eyed the crack in the door, watching as mom started pacing the room with the phone pressed to her ear.

"Charming, I'm not gonna touch Miss Swan, but if you don't do something about the problem I will take matters into my own hands. " She ordered before she hung up the phone and turned around so fast I didn't have time to move.

She stared at me surprised, her face softening. "Henry." I took off down the hall without a second thought. "Henry!" She yelled. I didn't turn around, I just kept running while her and David words pounded through my head. She's gonna hurt my mom. I ran all the way home.

"Hello, Henry." Mary Margaret said cheerfully. Stomping up the stairs, I didn't say a word to her and the second I was in my room, fell on my stomach on top of my bed, hands tucked under my chin.

I stared at the small fish tank. "Hey Nemo." I said to the clown fish, before grabbing my comic book and beginning to read with little interest.

"Henry," I heard Regina say quietly as she opened my door, I didn't turn to look at her. "Your gonna hurt my mom." I said defensively as I flipped forcefully through my comic.

"No Henry, your mother is going to hurt herself. " she sat on the edge of the bed I sat up, facing her.

"What do you mean?" I asked puzzled. She sighed. "Miss Swan, has some new powers that are very much out of control." "Why don't you you train her?" I asked.

"Henry, it's not as simple as my magic. She won't be able to control herself if her emotions get in the way." She took my hand, her eyes looking into mine. "We are trying to stop her before she endangers her life or anyone else"

I stood up, pulling my hand away from her like she burnt me. "She is not dangerous. She would never hurt anyone."

She stood up to meet me. "We will find a solution. " She said softly, before kissing my forehead. "We are doing everything to save her."

I hugged her fast around her stomach, taking her by surprise. "Thank you." I smiled at her. She left me in my room to my comics. I shivered, suddenly aware of how cold I was. I reached to lock the window and saw ice building up on the window. I pulled at the window. It was frozen hard. But, I just locked it. Something strange is happening in Storybrooke. I flipped the book open to villains with cold powers, staring at the book. Operation snow leopard in action.

Emma

"Wow. That's, a... uh." I stared at the tower of books containing incantations. "A lot of books."

Belle shook her head, seeming amused and disappointed. "You should have seen my old library, so many books, it was wonderful." She nodded, smiling at me dreamily, as if lost in the memory.

I smiled. "Which book got all my answers?"

She handed me a large ancient book. "I believe this is the one." She said before she picked up a different book for herself. "I shall read this one."

Her eyes danced with the promise of a new story. "Would you like some tea?"

"Sure." I replied. With a nod of the head she ran over to a coffee pot.

I turned over the pages of my tome. "It's crazy to see people actually so into this stuff." I said as I read off a spell's ingredient list 'Feed a left pink finger to a a blue glowing crocodile'.

She brought the tea to the table. "Well, I have, from experience, heard of people performing these actions." She laughed. "Some folks even go so far as ask what they are doing wrong. " From these I would have to go with idiocy, but that is my guess. I closed the book glancing at Belle. She seemed very strong-willed. Not at all scared of a person, like Gold. A strong fragile creature with delicate features.

"Belle, was Gold with you last night?"

She frowned. "No, he had to take care of some business with my father. " she eyed me cautiously. "Why?" She was obviously not naive when it came to what Gold was doing.

"Ruby saw Gold in the cemetery with someone she couldn't remember. "

She got up to get some sugar, not turning to look at me. "I don't know, I was at home all night of course I did pass the mayor, Grumpy, and Captain Hook. " I tapped at my chin. I have my suspicions, but none of them will hold water.

"Thank you." I replied vaguely. "I have to go." I went out back walking towards the cemetery. I checked the general appearance. I spotted Neal's grave before anything else. I noticed how fresh mud surrounded the spot. I touched it the surface feeling how dry the top was and underneath was wet, meaning that it hadn't been long. I walked to the oak tree that Ruby said Gold had been at. Their was definitely something marked in the tree. Similar to a blunt object striking it. Whether it's from Gold or someone else I couldn't tell. I stepped around the tree feeling as something crunched under foot. Looking down, I notice it to be a watch. Wait! This watch it's to familiar. Greg! It's Greg's watch. Why would Gold have this? I knew that Whale's had the watch, and suddenly it all made sense. That's the person who Ruby covered for. She didn't want me to question him. That's why he wasn't at the hospital when my arm was singed.

"That is the first thing thing I'm going to do. Tell someone" I turned around and there was Whales, standing behind me. His eyes boring into the grave.

"I'm here. I know the drill." He paused looking up at me. "Gold brought me here at about 8 o'clock. He told me to dig here and I did."

"Why?" I asked him cautiously, watching as his jaw tightened.

"I can't erase the past, but I know I can't get through the day without thinking of it. Gold would take those memories the ones that burden me even in my sleep." I glanced at Neal's grave, thinking of how broken I felt knowing he was gone. He had meant so much to me. "You agreed with Gold to dig up his grave! What for?" I pressed at him, trying to avoid any involuntary tears

"A necklace!" He shouted, stepping back from me when he saw how furious I was. "Some necklace with remaining power in it from the original body from the dark one." I touched the swan necklace that Neal had given me. I know now that I was never letting him take this from me.

- The darkness is slowly swallowing this town as they are starting to feel my freeze. Haha, weak bodies with no use to this town. Stronger, I'm getting so much more powerful everyday, tomorrow I will be ready to make my strike on this town. Their defenses will be weakened, their people dead. Stretching my now mobile arm. I think of how I must thank my master, then murder his soul that had brought me here. The temperature is slowly dropping. They will never know how intentional it all is before their time has run out. Each person relies on the town leaders to solve all their petty problems. They will see me coming well before all of those stupid leaders will. The snow started tumbling from the sky, turning into the perfect backdrop for the murder that will bring this whole town to there knees

PLEASE,PLEASE PLEASE, keep the reviews coming. You all don't even know how much they encourage me. Thank you crazy, dreamers and believers in something that started this little magic glow in me to write an OUAT fanfic.