Just wanted to thank everyone for the support and the reviews that you have given this story…yes that means that this adventure has come to an end. I had an idea earlier and have decided that I may make a sequel to this; however that is entirely up to you guys.
Anyway once again, thank you for the support and glad you all have enjoyed this story.
Hands of Time
She knew she was dreaming. How else could she have gone from being on the Jolly Roger to a deserted meadow in the middle of nowhere? "Hello?" She called out.
"Ah the Hope," She spun around to see a man with long white hair approaching her, "glad to see you are well and whole again."
"You," Emma gasped recognizing the man from the Piccaninny tribe, "you are the Shaman that helped us track Henry."
The man smiled gently at her, "Yes my child, I am…I also aided you father, the Believer, Killian, and the Dark One in saving you as well."
"Saving my life?" Emma asked confused, "What-?"
"Later child, my time grows short and I have much to say." The Shaman said in a voice that held century's worth of patience. Emma nodded as the man continued, "Now first in for most, I have spoken to the Great Spirits and they have agreed to give you something." The Shaman waved his hand.
Emma jumped back in shock as the ground started to burst with flames. Then from the flames music reached such a pitch that she felt it vibrating inside of them; the flames continued to erupt from the center of the ground but Emma noticed it was not burning anything. A second later, a bird was flying straight up out of the ground like a bullet being shot out of a gun. The majestic bird shot around the surrounding area and then landed heavily on the Shaman's shoulder, as it folded its great wings.
Emma was in awe as she looked at it, "This is a Phoenix…in fact that is his name. Phoenix." He said simply. Emma nodded numbly as she looked at the great bird. Phoenix had a long, sharp golden beak, and beady black eyes. The crimson bird was the size of a swan and had a glittering golden tail as long as a peacock's and gleaming golden talons, "Hey there," The man said softly stroking the beak lovingly. Phoenix lightly sang as he looked to him then to her as if saying hi back.
As the Shaman continued stroking the beak he said, "Phoenix is amazing. He can carry immensely heavy loads, his tears have healing powers, and he is very faithful." He then looked back at her, "Want to pet him?"
Emma eyed the bird and it gave a small bow to her. She tentatively reached her hand out and as soon as she touched his beak he vanished and before she could question what just happened she felt a powerful warmness inside of her. She gasped and started to pat herself down as she felt the warmth running through her, "What the-?"
"He accepted you," the man answered simply and slightly amused, "Phoenix is now you spirit creature."
"My what?" Emma asked not understanding.
"Phoenix is now your spirit creature," The Shaman stated again in a tone of a teacher, "He is like a reflection of your soul in away. Only powerful people are able to summon their spirit creature." He explained, "Although by circumstances you are recognized by the Great Spirits as a reward."
Before Emma could open her mouth to retaliate the Shaman continued talking, "Only powerful people can truly bond with their creatures too. At which I am sure you are able to do so."
Emma gulped and she did not feel as tired as she had before and thanks to Gold's training with her magic, she did feel her magic shift a bit, "Can you elaborate?" Emma asked.
"You will soon be able to shift into Phoenix at one point, just as Pan was able to shift into his spirit creature…"
"The cobra?" Emma asked with her mouth hanging open as the image of the massive snake appeared in her mind.
The Shaman nodded, "Yes. Peter's spirit creature is a cobra by the name of Serpent and unfortunately as you well know he mastered that art as well." He looked a bit guilty as he explained that, but Emma didn't question it.
She was still wondering about the soul part, "I know you said that each spirit creature represents one's soul, what does that mean?" Emma asked curiously.
"Well Phoenix is a symbol of immortality. After living for centuries, it dies, and rises from its own ashes. So I think that this reflected you rather well. You have overcome so many obsicals and therefore you were reborn from the ashes that was once your life." The look he gave her, Emma shifted her posture, it was like he was looking through her instead of at her. He continued to talk as he explained Pan's creature, "As for Pan and Serpent…the cobra represents power over life & death, in other words eternity. Pan is obsessed with power and multiple times he cheated death."
Emma nodded grimly as she recalled the tales that Hook had told her once they had gotten to this damn land, "So why are you telling me this?"
"I was getting to that. This is the second thing I wanted to discuss with you," The Shaman sighed and said, "I have already warned the Dark One, now I must warn you: many things can be deceiving when it comes to darkness. You may think it is over…however it may just be beginning."
Emma pondered his words and then it dawns on her as if she was just punched in the gut, "You mean to say that this is not over?"
The man nodded grimly, "I am afraid this is just the beginning. In time you will be faced with many trials and you must be prepared child. For without the Hope, then all will be lost to the darkness that accompanies the shadows."
"But I defeated Pan…twice theoretically." Emma stated slowly suddenly afraid for Henry and her family.
The Shaman smiled sadly, "What is done in theory, does not always mean it can be done in practice."
"What must I do then?" Emma begged, wanting to find anyway she could to protect her son.
"There will be a time for a choice; darkness eventually will envelope the land. You are the Light and the Hope. You are the one that can stop this. To defeat the evil and conquer the darkness, you must accept the light and in order to do so," Seeing Emma about to ask a question he held up a hand to silence her as he continued, "meaning unless you start fighting the darker side of your soul, these worlds and everyone in it are doomed."
"Wait worlds? I have to worry about multiple worlds?" Emma begun to pace, "I barely saved one!"
"I am aware of your fears and doubts, but child," his tone was calm and she stopped pacing, "you are not alone. Yes the power lies with you, but your power comes from the support of your family, which leads me to tell you this final thing."
Emma looks at him as he says, "No matter how much you want to you can't turn back the hands of time. You have to just let it go and you'll be fine." He smiles gently, "What's done is done and it's alright." Then he repeats, "You can't turn back the hands of time."
He begins to fade, "Wait! Come back please!" Emma calls out running to him.
"You can't turn back the hands of time." His voice keeps chanting and echoing around her as she continues to run toward him, "Let it go and you'll be fine."
"Wait!" Emma calls out as the meadow starts to melt away.
Snow wakes up to hear groaning coming from the other side of the room. She turns to see Emma thrashing around and moaning, "Wait. Please."
"Emma?" Snow went over to her daughter and begun to shake her, "Emma wake up!"
Emma continued to toss and turn, "No please wait!"
"Emma!" Snow yelled.
At the yell Emma bolt right up and nearly collided heads with Snow. Emma looks frantically around the room and notices that David and Henry are still sleeping, oblivious to the world, "Honey you ok?" At Snow's gentle voice Emma turns and looks at her mother.
"I had a dream…I think it was a dream…it felt so real." Emma responded her voice distant and confused.
Snow nods and asks, "Want to talk about it?"
Emma swallows a lump in her throat and shakes her head as she begins to get out of the cot, "Not right now…I just need some air." With that Emma leaves the room, leaving a concerned Snow in her midst.
Once Emma reaches the deck she spots Gold leaning against the barrier of the ship. She hesitantly goes over to him. Before she could even speak he asks, "You got the warning as well?"
Emma lets out a sigh and says, "Yes, I take it you knew about this?"
Gold is not looking at her, but keeps his eyes on the vast calm ocean, "Not directly. I only knew part of it from when your father, Hook, Henry, and I went to the mainland to help you recover from your…trauma."
"Yea about that," Emma looks at him sternly, "which one of you had the brilliant idea to take him to the land that almost killed us in the first place?"
Gold couldn't help but let out a snort, "Easy dearie otherwise you and Regina will soon be on the same wavelength…" Sensing that she was un-amused he sighed, "It was Henry's idea. We went along with it, because we did not want him seeing you so…vulnerable."
Emma sighed and said, "Well thank you for trying to help."
"As I said, I am invested in your future…now then," His brisk tone was back and he finally looked at her, "to what exactly are you seeking?"
Emma eyed him and said one word, "Answers."
Gold smirked, "If you want answers, then ask."
Emma sighed. Before she had that dream, she remembered everything that happened: everything from the time of the attack to her fight with her mother and Regina, then with David and Hook, and then finally ending with Pan. However what she remembered clearly was hearing her family's voices inside the ones she was experiencing…that is what she wanted to ask about…was it a dream or something else? So taking a breath she was not looking at the man, but rather out in the open ocean, "Was it dream or were you really there?"
Gold did not need clarification as to what she meant. So he too turned his gaze from the woman and looked into the ocean, "We were there." He stated sadly as he remembered his thoughts on the life the blonde had lived, "When you sent the shadows away, you somehow transported us to your memories."
"I heard you," she stated her voice masked with voidness from years of being in the system and being a bail-bonds person, "I heard Snow and David comforting me and Henry as well. I also heard Regina vowing to hurt Sanders and Hook…you…"
"Yes we did." Gold admitted, "We promised that we would get revenge."
Emma allowed herself to smile, "Well sorry to disappoint, but you are too late for that."
"How so?" Gold asked curiously.
"I arrested his sorry ass when I started working with Vance." Emma said smirking as she saw recognition in Gold's eyes, "He was dealing, got bail from Vance, skipped court, and I had the honors of tracking him down and sending him to where he rightfully belonged…of course not without a bit of payback…which by the way is a total bitch."
Gold nodded in understanding with what she meant, "Ah well your father and mother will be sorely disappointed then."
Emma nodded in agreement, but then her thoughts turned to Henry, "He saw everything then."
He knew it was not a question, but confirmed her statement anyway, "Yes he did, however if you think that changed his outlook on you, then you are wrong." Emma again nodded as Gold sighed, "You know, you cannot turn back the hands of time."
It was Emma's turn to snort, "You and that damn Shaman speak the same language."
"Well we speak the truth," Gold said, "There are times I wish I could go back, but alas I cannot. We cannot. Our experiences shape us and help us grow. Besides if you did, change everything, then you would not have what you have now."
Before Emma could respond she heard a shout, "MOM!" Henry came barreling toward her and threw himself at her, "You weren't there when I woke up and Grams said you came out here. Are you ok? What happened?"
"I am fine…or at least I will be," She stated looking at Gold who nodded with a smile.
Snow and David exchanged looks and then looked between Emma and Gold, wondering what had happened.
"What is all the racket?" Hook's voice came to them as he approached the crowd, "Is everything alright lass?" He asked looking at Emma, "You gave us quiet a turn before; has something else happened?"
"No Killian," Emma stated standing up, "Everything is fine." Letting go of Henry she went over to him, not caring about who was standing around them. She leaned up and whispered in his ear, "Thank you." Then she kissed him on the cheek.
Hook's face turned a bit red as Henry grinned at the stunned pirate and then at both of his grandfathers faces who were wearing identical looks of shock and embarrassment. When Regina came up to the deck she asked, "What is going on?" Seeing them just standing in a mini-circle on the deck, "Is everyone ok?"
"Yea we are fine," Emma stated again. She couldn't explain the feeling that she was having. It was as if thousands of pounds were lifted off of her shoulders after her talk with Gold. She walked up to Regina and held out her hand which Regina gave her a confused look, "I wanted to say thank you…for everything."
Regina looked at Emma then at her out stretched hand, "You are welcome." She eventually said accepting the hand.
Then Emma turned to her parents and took them by surprise by hugging them, "I am so sorry." She said.
"For what?" David asked still shocked and confused.
"For being so stubborn and harboring all those feelings," Emma pulled away and looked at them, "I know what you guys saw and I will admit I blamed you at first," Seeing her parents starting to tear up Emma hurried on, "but not anymore. I guess what I am trying to say," She took a deep breath and looked at Gold, "We can't turn back the hands of time. But I will learn to let it go. What's done is done and if we just let it go, then we will all be fine."
Gold nodded in approval as Snow, David, and Henry pulled her back into a giant hug and he walked away from the group to the back of the ship. He looked out into the open sea as Hook made his way to the steering wheel as he shouted that they were finally on their way to rescue Neal. Gold watched as the bean was thrown into the sea and as the swirling vortex appeared he couldn't help but hear a voice inside his head, "Darkness will rise once more. Be prepared. It is your duty to train the Hope if there is any chance in overpowering the darkness."
Gold shudders as he grips hold of a rope as the ship heads toward the portal, a strange feeling over takes him. It was much like the one that he had when the first entered Neverland: dark and ominous. He takes this as a sign as the ship is now in the vortex…they may have won the battle, but the war had officially begun.