So once again thank you for the reviews and support! You are all awesome! I know the memory sequences were a bit short, however I was thinking about this story and suddenly it has taken a different turn on me…almost like it said, "Yo! We are doing this my way so take a hike!" And well yea…you know how stories get when they develop a mind of their own…
So as always bare with me, review, and above all else: enjoy!
Hands of Time
"And you didn't think to tell me about this?!" David yelled while making hand gestures in the blackness of the area, "You didn't find it relevant that we were LIED to about the safety of OUR daughter?!"
Snow snorted in disbelief, "Ok allow me to point out once again that I had not a single clue about this until I found August in the woods. Emma, our DAUGHTER as you pointed out, did not even tell me about this."
David turned his back on her and ran a hand through his hair in frustration and disbelief, "Damn it Snow!" He finally said after a moment, "Regardless, you couldn't have found time at some point to discuss this with me?!"
"Are you kidding me right now?! Found time?! What time was there to tell you about this?! What the hell have we been through since the damn curse broke that we even had a bleeding chance to talk about what has happened in the twenty-eight bloody years of her life?! What time have we had since the moment the curse broke to the point of which Henry was kidnapped and Neal sent to another world Charming?!" Snow yelled now panting out of breath, "When did you expect me to talk about this? When we got back from the forest? I didn't know about that then and I am sure Emma would not have been thrilled to discuss that with us. Or maybe you would have liked to discuss it during the time when we were hunting down August's attempted killer?" David was about to say something when Snow cut him off, "Yeah I do not think so…or how about when Emma was grieving for the loss of her son and long lost lover? Yeah David I am sure that conversation would have gone over oh so well." Snow snapped while turning her back on him.
Regina, Gold, Hook, and Henry remained quiet through the fight. They had no idea what to say much less do about the situation. Everyone could see how upset they are, but did not know how to even approach them and pull them apart. David pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh, "You are right. I am sorry. I should not have unloaded on you like this."
Snow turned and looked at him and could tell that he was really sorry. Turning fully around she faced him and responded, "I should have told you sooner, but like I said there was so much happening at once that-"
"We didn't have time to process anything about everything. I know," He sighed again and said, "so what do we do about this?" He made a motion to everything.
Before any of them could respond the area started to spin around them, "What's happening?" Henry called out hugging to Regina. No one could respond as they felt the air leave them and they were then engulfed in a flash of bright light.
When the light dimmed they found themselves on the deck of the Jolly Roger. Groaning they sat up and took in their surroundings. They were indeed back on the ship. The boat rocked gently and to them it had looked liked hardly any time had passed. The sky still held it's pink and red colors and the winds were steady and calm, "We are back?" Regina asked confused, "How did this happen?"
"It seems Emma has released us…or subconsciously she did not want us to see anymore…" Gold said hesitantly.
At the mention of Emma's name Henry, David, and Snow jumped up and frantically looked for the blond and found her lying on her stomach out cold, "Emma!" They exclaimed running over to her.
Her eyes were closed and her face was pale, "Mom?" Henry called as he gave her a little shove.
However Emma was unresponsive. David leaned in close to her ear, "Emma?" He called gently.
Again she was unresponsive, but he was glad that he could feel her warm breath on his face when he leaned in close, "It seems the effect of the shadow attack still has not worn off yet…" Hook said slowly as he watched the royal family trying to wake Emma up, "Might I suggest we move her somewhere more comfortable?" He asked after watching them continuing to get Emma to awaken.
Snow gave Emma a heartbreaking look as he nodded his agreement. He managed to lift Emma into his arms bridal style and Hook led them to his captain quarters, where David them placed Emma in the cot. Regina, Gold, and Henry stood by the door watching the near heartbreaking scene before them. "Is there nothing you two can do for her?" Henry asked sadly looking at his adoptive mother and grandfather.
Regina shook her head, "I am sorry Henry. If there was, I would try it, but I am afraid this is beyond me." She said her tone genuinely filled with regret.
He looked at Gold, who was in deep thought, "I do not know if there is anything I can do...I have never really encountered Neverland's magic nor this particular type of magic until now…however," hearing this everyone's heads snapped toward him, "I think there might be someone that can help us…"
"Why didn't you say something before?" Snow asked her voice dangerously low as she stopped stroking her daughter's hair to glare at the old man.
Gold sighed and leaned on his cane, "Because we were otherwise detained by your daughter so my idea would not have been any use to us."
Before Snow could argue, David placed a hand on his wife's shoulder to silence her then turned his attention on Gold, "What do we have to do?"
"You are not going to like it," Gold said, "but if you want to help your daughter we have to go back-"
"Go back where?" Hook asked interrupting, "Her memories?"
Gold glared at the pirate, "If you would allow me to finish I will tell you." Hook nodded and Gold started again, "We have to go back to the mainland and see the Shaman."
"Wait," Regina said as Gold turned to face her, "we have to go back to the place that tried to kill all of us? Are you insane?"
"Afraid not dearie; the Shaman, Ketata, has more experience than myself in this…tragedy. If anyone can help the Savior it is him." Gold finished softly.
Everyone looked at one another as Hook sighed, "I will set course to the mainland then." Regina and Henry joined Snow and David by Emma's bed. Hook was about to leave when he turned back to Gold and said in a low voice, "You had better be right about this."
Gold looked at his former enemy and responded just as low, "You think I want the outcome to be like this?" He pointed to the family who went back to Emma as she continued to remain unresponsive, "I have invested too much in this family, besides," leaning in close, "I have just as much to lose as you do if Ms. Swan remains like this."
Hook gave Gold one final look before turning his back on the Dark One. Regina was watching the exchange as she stepped away from Henry's side to join Gold by the doorway. She motioned outside and he followed. Closing the door behind her she asked, "What game are you playing now?"
"You think this is a game?" He asked raising his eyebrows.
Regina smirked, "Please, I saw that little pissing match with Hook. Now with you there is a price. What is it this time?"
"As always Regina you lead yourself to the wrong conclusion," Gold sighed as he went toward the railing of the ship and looked out into the vast ocean, "I am invested in the future of that family. Without Emma my son is gone. As with you," He looked at her from the corner of his eye, "without Emma there is no Henry."
Regina joined him at the railing of the ship, "True however my motives seemed to have changed slightly."
"I know dearie…you are trying out goodness for the boy. However you are also starting to feel sympathy for your…step-granddaughter." He stated smirking at her sudden unease with the subject, "besides dearie let me ask you: do you know what happens when one's soul is stripped from them in a dark manner?"
Regina looked at Gold to see if he was joking, but when she saw the seriousness of his face she said, "Doesn't it just get misplaced, like when a wraith takes it?"
Gold shook his head, "What Ms. Swan is experiencing is nothing like what a wraith does. In fact it is worse than what happens when a wraith takes your soul." He sighs and looks back at the door and then at Hook whose sight is focused straight ahead into the vast sea, "These creatures that attacked us have no specific name so we just call them shadow creatures. As you know this land was taken over by these creatures because of Pan. He managed to release and control them, until we came in and sent Pan and his minions back into realm from where they were released…we could call it lets say…the Shadow Realm. It would seem that these creatures that did not make it back to the realm decided to attack us. When Ms. Swan activated her magic, she managed to send the remaining few into that realm…"
"I am sensing a 'however', coming," Regina said slowly trying to absorb what Gold was saying.
"Ah yes you are right. There is a…'however' to this," Gold stated, "it would appear as if one creature attached itself to Ms. Swan's soul…the very essence of her life."
"Which would make her relive her most horrible memories?" Regina asked.
Gold nodded, "Yes. It would seem that it is feeding off of her dark feelings and emotions, and if it continues to do so, Ms. Swan might be doomed to enter the Shadow Realm herself, where her soul will be forever tortured by her worse fears, memories, anything that could and will break her…"
Regina just stood there looking at him as he avoided her gaze and continued looking out in the distance as now an outline of an island came into view, "It seems as you know more about this than you let on…" She finally stated.
Gold snorted, "Dearie please, where do you think my powers came from? Where do you think the 'Dark One' originated?" Regina shrugged not bothering to answer, "The reason why I cannot help Ms. Swan is because my 'dark powers' are no match for the pure darkness that may be residing in her…especially since it seems to look like she has harbored those dark feelings very heavily for a very long time."
Regina looked at him confused, "But she is the Savior…the product of True Love…she-"
"Is human." Gold stated simply, "Just because she is a symbol of good, does not make her immune to darkness."
Regina said nothing, but sighed as she turned her back on him and started to make her way to the Captain's quarters. However she paused as a question came to her, "Is there hope?"
"Come again?" Gold asked as he was suddenly lost in thought as he saw the island now in view.
"For Emma," Regina clarified, "As of right now, is there hope for her?"
Gold looked at the Queen and said, "Honestly? It depends on Ms. Swan's will power; whether she wants to continue to fight or to give into the darkness."
"So even with the Shaman's help Ms. Swan could lose her soul to the shadow?"
"I did not know you cared for her." Gold responded.
Regina stormed over to the man and said, "For Henry! I have to know what to say to him if he asks me these things…so I ask you again," she got close to him and asked slowly and dangerously, "You are telling me that with the Shaman's help Ms. Swan could still lose her soul to the shadow? Yes or no? That is all I want…a simple yes or no."
Gold looked at her dead in the eye and said, "Yes."
Regina stepped back, her face now pale just as Hook said, "One of you might want to get the others. We will be back at the island in roughly fifteen minutes and we have a lot of planning to do if we are going ashore again."