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A month before the dark curse

Corona

"Let me go! "

"Oh dear Rapunzel, it won't be that easy this time. You see I'm stronger than before. When you cut that hair of yours it didn't just go away forever. Magic doesn't work that way. It simply was absorbed into the last thing or in this case, the last person it touched. " Gothel said as she pulled the girl along.

"Why do you want me!?" Rapunzel screamed. She was dirty from head to toe. She was laced in what was an all-white dress. Her brown hair had grown out since the last time Gothel had seen the girl.

"Because I won't pick up where we left off my dear daughter. I can't hold the magic forever. It gave me my life back and gave me the power to kidnap you. But it must go back to where it came from. Or I will die once more. "

"I am not your daughter! My parents will be after you. " they were now walking through the forest on the outside of her parent's kingdom. Today was supposed to be special. Now it was a nightmare.

"Don't worry once we get to the source of the magic and restore your hair we will go where they can't find us. "

"Where is that?"

"O the Enchanted Forest, of course!"

Storybrooke

Present day

"Ruby!"

"What's wrong Henry? "

"Emma, we have to help her. My mother is framing her for kidnapping me but she didn't. "

"Of course she didn't. I see you walk up to her. Come on. " Ruby untied her apron and ran out with him. She liked Emma for some reason ever since Emma came here. She had connections with her. And without knowing it, Emma was her Godchild at least that was what Snow and David had planned long ago.

"Graham, come on don't do this. "

"Sorry Emma, I have too. " Graham was taking her mugshots. He knew deep down she didn't do it. But it was like he had no choice. His heart wasn't in control.

"You don't have too. You are your own man, she can't control you. "

"But she does Emma! I can't explain it but she does. I can't control myself. I'm sorry. " he finished saying as Henry rushed in with Ruby. Emma sighed of relief.

"Henry! Oh hey, Ruby. "

"Hey, Emma. Graham, you're crazy. Emma never did this. I saw Henry walk up to her. "

"Sorry I can't just let her go just because you say so. "

"Then take the money. I'm bailing her out. "

"Why?" Emma asked as Graham took the cuff off. Emma smiled a little. She walked over to Henry and Ruby.

"I trust you. Plus you didn't do it. "

"Thanks. Henry goes home to your mother. I have something I need to do. " Emma said walking pass them. This woman wanted to play this game then Emma was ready to make her move.

Enchanted Forest

Two weeks before the curse

"Oh please, not another tower, " Rapunzel said as Gothel dragged the girl through the forest. It had been two weeks since they left Corona. They had traveled far. Rapunzel had no idea where they were going. She never heard of The Enchanted Forest. After leaving the cliff top where, Gothel performed some kind of spell, transferring the magic back to Rapunzel. Her hair had grown back and it was like she never escaped.

"Oh shut up! Soon you won't even remember. You will be mine forever. We are being sent to a place where all good loses and evil wins. A place with no happy endings. " little did Gothel know that not only would Rapunzel lose her memories but so will she.

"What do you think you are doing!?"

Regina had walked into chaos at her offices. What she had before her was Emma with a chainsaw, cutting a branch off her prize apple tree. The women had dared to give Regina a smirk. Emma tossed the chainsaw down and crossed her arms.

"You want to play this game then fine. " Emma paused walking up to Regina so they were only inches apart. Regina could feel her hot breath on her. " You have no idea who you are messing with. Your move. " and just like that Emma walked away feeling pride in her chest. She wouldn't let this woman push her around anymore.

"You know Regina I expected you by now to have got rid of her. Looks like you are going soft. "

"Gwendolyn." Regina turned around to the other women. Even without her memories, she was just as annoying but smart as she was with them.

"Regina my dear we have been friends for as long as I can remember. I never knew you to let someone go like you did what with her."

"I am not going soft! And I didn't let her go. I need time to plan my next move. What do you want anyway?"

"The truth. "

"About what?"

"You know what. I can't remember who I really am. But somehow I now remember everything about the curse. Just not who I was. " Regina grew angry. The curse was weakening. Somehow Gothel was remembering. She had to put an end to it. She had made a deal with Gothel that she would let them get swept up in the curse so she could finally have the girl to herself in return Gothel had to stay quiet about the curse. But Regina didn't exactly stay true to her words. She had cursed her.

"Gwendolyn, you are crazy. Go home. "

"Fine pretend for now. I know something is changing and I won't know the truth. Somewhere deep down I know you must have betrayed me and I won't stop until I find out. "

"Did you really cut her tree down?"

"Well the tree branch, but yes Henry. Shouldn't you be home?" Emma had been walking home when Henry caught up her. He, of course, wasn't listening again and came out to find her.

"She is too busy with her next move to get you to leave. She thinks I'm at the arcade. Anyways, Emma, can we talk about this?" Henry held his book out to her. She grabbed it, feeling a sense that she held it before.

"Henry, what is so important about this book? "

"It's your history Emma. You need to believe. You need to bring the happy ending back. " Emma stopped and looked at him.

"Henry I am not in some book. It isn't my history. "

"Yes it is, look, " he said opening a page up to a picture of a baby wrapped in a blanket. With a name written on it.

"Wow... That looks exactly like my blanket... "

"That's because it is! Your father put your through the wardrobe that night with your blanket. " Emma closed the book. She refused to believe. But the fact was that someone wrote these stories and somehow knew about her. They used that to create this book. Or at least that was what she wanted to believe.

"Henry there has to be an explanation. Someone knows about me. Knows my story and twisted it for their own good. I think it is time you go home. " She reached to give him the book just as a man race through, grabbing it. She didn't get a good look at him, just that he had long black hair.

"My book!" Henry cried out.

"Henry, go home, please. I will get your book back. " Henry nodded and ran in the direction of his house. Emma took off the other way. The man was fast. Faster than most people. But Emma was smart. While he ran out in the open, she dashed behind the buildings. She knew how to catch people that was her thing. She leaped over trash. And over fences. She knew she would pass him now. She turned the corner, just as he ran toward her. He didn't have time to stop and ran right into her.

"It looks like we meet again. Shall we finish what we started ten years ago? " The man that was now below her, since she managed to pull him down, was someone she saw before. He had long black hair and black eyes. And a scar down his face that she could never forget.

"You. "

"Ah yes you remember. I'm glad. " Scar said as he struggled against her. Ten years ago her body had been filled with fear, now she was filled with anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Emma pressed him harder to the ground. Though she didn't remember who she truly was, all of her other memories were the same. Including the one of her almost getting raped.

"I came to finish the job. " he pushed her up as he stood. He threw her against the wall. She began to replay the scene from last time. But this time it would be different. She brought her knee up, slamming it into his groin. He yelled out in pain, losing his grip on her. In a quick movement, she pulled his hands behind his back.

"Sorry I am not that weak little girl anymore. You, sir, are messing with the wrong women. "

"And you are under arrest. " Graham said the side of Emma. She hadn't even noticed that he pulled up. Relief fell over her face as she seen the Sheriff. He smiled softly. "Henry called. Good work. I was definitely wrong about you. " he said putting the cuff on Scar.

"You think?"

"Look I'm sorry. That's all I can say. I can't change it. "

"I understand. No one here seems to want to go against her beside me. "

"Yeah and that is what has put fear in her again. " Graham pushed Scar in the car and turned to her just as she picked up Henry's book.

"I doubt I brought fear back to her. But I'm glad I have proved to everyone that she can be a challenge. "

"Yeah. And I need someone like you to work with me. I have some money in the budget she gives me. And it's the only thing she allows me to pick. How about a job here. As my deputy?" Emma was taken back. She hadn't planned to stay here that long. But then again she needed a job while she was here.

"Sure but don't you think Regina would he mad?"

"Another reason to do it. "

"Hello, Scar. " a voice from the darkness of the jail was heard. It had been a couple hours since Graham put him in here. He had been stupid, going after the women. But he wanted her. And he also wanted to see what she remember.

"I don't have time for guessing games. "

"Actually you have plenty of time since you aren't getting out of here. " Rumpelstiltskin said as he appeared from the dark. Scar heard about the dark one but never met him. It seems he knew about him.

" Rumpelstiltskin, a pleasure to meet you. What can I do for you? "

"What are you doing here?"

"I have come for my nephew. It doesn't seem like you have come to bail me out. So what is it that you want. "

"You're right. You see I can't have you scaring Emma. I need her to break the curse. Just like you need her. So if you ever get out of here before it is broken, then stay away from her. Once it breaks. You are free to do whatever you please. " and with that, he left leaving Scar to his thoughts.

Gwendolyn had finally made her way home. She had decided to take a long way home. She needed to clear her head. Ever since Emma came back she had begun to remember more and more. She didn't remember her old life but she remembers Regina and her making a deal. And for some reason, Regina broke that deal.

"Hey, Mama. " Rachel said as she walked in. She looked at the girl. There was one more thing she remembered. Rachel wasn't her real daughter.

Emma got home finally after filling stuff out for Graham. She was tired. What happened with the man tonight had shaken her up. She just wasn't sure how she should feel. Then there was Regina. That women bother her more than anything. She wouldn't be too happy about her becoming deputy and that made Emma smile. She finally settled down when her phone rang.

"Evaleen"

"Emma! I'm so glad you answer. " Emma could hear the smile in her voice. Emma was happy to hear her little sister's voice. They had always been close. Evaleen was the third child and sometimes being the middle child was hard. She always turned to Emma for advice. Emma couldn't wait to see her.

"Emmy I need your help. " Emmy was her nickname that her younger siblings gave her.

"Anything for my favorite sister. "

"Emma I'm your only sister. " The girl chuckled. She was right though. It was only two of them. And three brothers. Emma didn't mind. Evaleen and her had a special bond.

"Yeah yeah, what is it. "

"Well, it's this guy... "

"Okay spill it. I want to hear everything. "

"You know I don't think I will get sleep with all these visitors. "

"Well, I heard Sam's uncle was in town. I thought I as the mayor should properly greet him. Hello, Scar. " Regina came into the light. She couldn't sleep. After a very short night with Graham, who seems distracted, she decided to come see Scar. Graham told her about him.

"So you are the mayor here? Not as scary as the Evil Queen. " Regina looked surprised that he knew her. "Oh don't act surprised. You know who I am. So it only makes sense that I know who you are. I think we should talk. "

"Yes like how you got here?"

"Well, that's for me to know and for you to find out. I don't want to ruin the fun. Figure it out. "

"Fine. I'm guessing somehow you ended up on the outside of the curse. I'm actually surprised the Savannah's actually got swept up at all. "

"The curse only took those closer to the pride rock. We got swept up but since we were so far out we landed on the outside of the town. "

"We?"

"Yes, the hyenas and I madam Mayor. "

Next Morning

Emma's yellow bus pulled up to the town line. She was so excited. Her family would finally be reunited. Right before she hung up with Evaleen, she told Emma they would be there the next day. So now it was time to wait. She told Graham she would start work tomorrow. He understood. She was glad someone in this town beside Red, and Henry was nice to her. She has pulled out her thoughts as a red SUV pulled up. It drove over the town line, stopping in front of her car. Emma stepped out just as Snow did.

"Mama!"

"Em," Snow was the only one, to get out. She would greet the rest when they got to the inner part of town. Snow was dressed in a pair of jeans, soft pink sweeter and long brown boots. The years had started to show on Snow, but they have been good to her. She was now forty-six years old. It was proof that time had started again for them when they came to Emma eighteen years ago. Her black hair now had more than a few grey strands. She had let her hair to grow out a little, it now came to the middle of her neck. And lastly, she had gained a few wrinkles.

"I'm glad you guys are finally here. " Emma embraced her mother. Though Snow had a few years on her, she was still strong and brave as before. She didn't let the years bring her down. If face with someone like Regina she could still take them down.

"It wasn't easy finding the way. But we managed. Come on let's get to that diner you talked about so we can catch up and meet our grandson. "

"He's amazing mom. I still can't believe I gave him up. And now I'm starting to think I made a mistake. "

"You can't change what happened. You are here now. And so are we. "

They went back to their own cars and Emma lead the way. She was glad her family was here. Things have been confusing and hard since she got here. Regina wasn't the easiest person. And Henry had stories that were believable. Her parents would make it better. They always had. They pulled up to granny's and all piled out. She gave each of them a hug before walking into the diner. Within seconds all eyes were on them. The diner was busy as usual. Red was serving and Granny was taking orders. And off to the right was Regina and Henry.

"Emma!" Henry called from his seat rushing over. Regina turned her head and almost fell over. She couldn't believe who stood before her. Her whole world crashed down. The Charmings were back. They weren't alone. They had other kids. Regina couldn't focus.

"Hey, kid. I like you to meet my family. These are your grandparents, aunts, and uncles. "