Catching Baelfire before he managed to land into a world without magic was rather easy, but, Emma knew that was just thanks to the power that she held. Popping into the stream of his portal, grabbing onto the back of his shirt, and taking him with her to a later time stream. For her, it was as easy as snapping her fingers. Yet, Rumplestiltskin never held that kind of power. Thankfully he knew how to train her to use it, even if he himself could not. Though he did not have her power he made sure to use it to his advantage. Emma understood that, and accepted it.
Placing the boy under an alteration spell was overly simplistic, and now he would accept his father's magic. Rather than reject it. Emma wondered why the man hadn't done it himself before his son had jumped through a portal, but, she guessed that his love for the boy stopped him from doing it. She found that reason to be stupid, but she owed the man who had shown her the extent of her seemingly endless magic.
"Bae?" Gold said as he shot up. Emma had transported herself, and Gold's son, into Gold's home. "Is that really you?" Bae nodded. "Oh Bae!" Gold wrapped his scaly arms around his long lost son.
Long overdue hugs and mutterings happened between the father and his child, and Emma waited semi-patiently. She understood Gold's pain, she'd lost a love. Losing a precious child probably wasn't much different. Not that she'd ever lost one, the child she'd lost deserved only death in her eyes after all. Even if she had not been able to get the full vengeance she wanted from him. Finally after what seemed like ages Gold turned to look at her.
"Thank you" Rumplestiltskin told her, clutching onto his son like he was made of the metal he had named himself after in the new world. "But, how did you know he was mine? Why did you bring him to me?"
Rather than answer his question Emma handed him the contract. As his eyes gazed upon it his jaw fell to the floor. Mouth hanging open he re-read it a second, and third time. His signature at the bottom. He'd recognize it anywhere, this was no fake. He still barely believed it, but his son was by his side. He'd do anything to have his boy back. He owed the woman before him much more than he could give.
"I caught him when he jumped through the portal, I brought him to you on this day, at your request. I made it so he will forgive you, and accept your magic. I have upheld my end of our bargain, I do not have long in this world. It is up to you to uphold the rest. The version of yourself I made this with assured me you would not back down on a deal." Emma spoke slowly, with certainty.
"From the future, but I had not seen this. Even I, admittedly, do not have the power to alter the past, why would I deal with someone who, clearly, has more power than I Dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin said, pulling his son into a sideways hug. Scared to let go of him.
"To change it. This was the only way to get your son back, the only way to get what I need as well. Uphold the words of the contract you have signed. Do not make my regret my decision to uphold mine, you know as well as I that could have simply not done my end." Emma crossed her arms as she spoke.
No lie was spoken. The Savior could have easily just gone and done what she'd set out to do without meddling in Gold's sons affairs. However, she'd decided to uphold her end. In the hope that the slimey pawnbroker would hold up his. From the way he pocketed it as he looked at her, before glancing at his son with love, she doubted he'd cross her. Or, it could have simply been his fear at hearing the pure malice of her voice.
The contract stated that Regina Mills was to have an easy life, to find love, to be treated like a Queen. That she was to live in luxury, and never feel deep pain. The other part of the contract enlisted the Dark One to meddle in Snow White's life. He was to make sure that no matter what she was not to bare child. The last condition was that Charming, and his brother would both die. Neither allowed to cross Snow's path. Things that would be no trouble for one such as the Dark One.
"My word, on my son's life" Emma nodded at him, they grasped each other's wrists. Shaked once, and then the man was left alone with the son he had longed to see for more moons than one should be able to see.
Knowing she would be unable to finish the task at hand without seeing the infantile portrayal of her beloved she headed towards the babys nursery. While she knew that she should not, she could not help herself. Emma had found herself waiting till the infants nursemaid had left her alone to sneak into her bedchambers. Unable to stop herself she had plucked the baby from her cradle. Holding her tightly in her arms.
"What I do, I do for you. My beloved Regina. I wish only that the cost was not as it is. That we could be together, but alas, it can not be. Be free my love. Grow, Love, be happy." Emma kissed Regina's forehead, a single tear trekking it's way down her cheek.
Holding her beloved cause her heart to break all over again. She held the child, who slept in her arms, sparing a few sleepy glances here or there, until footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor. Emma felt like her very soul was shattering as she placed Regina back down.
Visiting her Hallowed lover left her with even more determination. More anger, hatred. More than ever she was relentless, and she was filled to the brim with Malice. The woman who acted as the first stressor, the first to corrupt, to destroy her True Love. That woman was soon to die at her very hand, in vengeance for deeds she had yet to perform.
Down the corridors she walked. Making herself invisible to all those who walked past her, her boots clunking against the stone floors. Scaring the maids who walked past. Emma knew just where she was headed. Cora's chambers. When she reached the right door she barged right in, revealing herself. And then she locked the doors behind her.
At the sense of danger Cora blasted a fireball at the blonde. But the woman disappeared in a flash of purple smoke, appearing mere moments later. Striking fear deep within the endless pit of darkness and decay that lay where Cora's heart should lie. No one should be able to get inside of her bedchambers.
"Who, what, are you?" Screeched Cora. No one but she herself should have had the ability to use magic inside of her room. She was powerful, the only known person to get past all of her enchantments was Rumplestiltskin.
"I am the woman who loves your daughter. A woman who is willing to risk everything, even not being born, if it means that the woman I love with every fiber, every ounce, of my being will not have to endure the pain that you inflicted upon her shoulders" Emma advanced as she spoke, and Cora retreated.
Muttering spell after spell Cora tried to get Emma every from her. As her back landed against the far wall she had gone so far as to try and rip the women's heart out. To find that while she could feel the organ, she could not yank it out. She was powerless against this woman's heart. Her magic falling futile against the intruder in strange clothing.
"My daughter is not of age. She still drinks from her governess's breast, but please. When she is of age you may have her hand if that is what you desire" Cora assured, it was a lie. And they both knew it. Cora didn't know what was going on, but she needed the time to find the power to defeat the blond.
"I know. I saw her earlier on this day. Such a beautiful babe. How could you take the woman from her own child? Just because she could feed the one you see fit to abuse and torture? I must lose everything, my very existence, my soul. As it means that she will be safe from your hatred, from the pain you will cause." Emma's hands were on either side of the woman's head. And Cora shook as Emma looked down at her.
Never before, not once, had Cora ever feared for her own life. It was rare for her to be afraid period. But now, not she feared death. The woman before her struck the fear deep inside of her. And then she felt Emma's hand inside of her chest. Ripping out her blackened organ that one called a heart. The pit of darkness and decay that rested under her ribcage. Before her very eyes the unknown intruder crushed it. The woman who had been destined to destroy all the good inside of her very own daughter died.
The relief that she had changed destiny was short lived as Emma herself slumped to the ground. Her heart quickening to the point it was like that of a hummingbird's wings. Slowly her eyes closed, and her body began to fade. As if it had never truly existed. But that was alright, because, in the end, Emma Swan had saved the only person she had ever truly loved. The only person who had ever truly loved her. All of her.
Emma Swan had more than True Love with her beloved. She freely gave her soul so that her hallowed love could live on, to prosper, so that she could be happy. Changing history so that Regina could be free, even if it meant that she would also be free of her. Emma Swan would never exist. Never be born, and her deed would not be known. But the woman she had done it all for. Was free.
All magic comes with a price. Demanding sacrifice. Emma had been warned. But, as the Rumplestiltskin from her time had known, you will give anything to save the ones you love. For Love is the most powerful magic of them all, there is little one would die for, but dying for love isn't really dying at all. It's simply giving yourself so the one you love can live on. It's pure, unadulterated sacrifice. And that, is the most magnificent of all Love.
A/N: I deeply apologize for taking so long to update. I was attempting to perfect this chapter, but so far every version had been. Disappointing, at least to me. This one is one I can be happy with. For now this is the end, but in the future I might add to it. Who knows? As always, please leave me your thoughts if you have the time.