A/N- ANNNNDDD I'm back! Holy smokes, guys... was that episode intense or what? I am soooo not ready for the finale. It is going to hurt like crazy.
If you are looking for a way to feel better about things, this chapter won't help. This is angsty angst at its worst, I'm afraid. Sorry it took so long to get to this chapter. I did something like three rewrites because I just didn't feel like I had it right, still not quite sure about it... Feel free to let me know what you think.
Thank you all so much for your reviews and follows and everything. They have given me the drive I needed to push through and write this.
Anyway, here is this...I really hope you enjoy it. I will do my best not to leave you hanging for the next chapter (which should be the conclusion), but I've gone back and forth about exactly how I want it to end so much that I can't make any promises for a super quick update.
*Deep breath*... Let's do this...
Chapter 9
Emma had spent yet another restless night in the relative safety of her Beetle. Her sleep had been fitful at best, plagued by vivid dreams of blood and horror and guilt with the way she had acted towards her parents. Often throughout the night, she had searched out Killian, needing his steadfast support, even from a distance. He would send small messages of encouragement and love, but never once pushed her to come back or made her feel guilty about running. At this point, he understood her feelings so well, it was as if they were the same person.
At dawn, Emma had awoken from a particularly disturbing dream involving Gold, Killian, and her magic spiraling out of control and she knew sleep was no longer an option. While she longed for the comfort and safety of his arms once more, she knew she needed to work out what was going on with her before she could return home. To do that, she needed help.
Even though it was ridiculously early in the morning, Ursula greeted Emma warmly and told her she was glad to see her. As Emma stepped inside, she immediately sensed that Ursula wasn't alone. A woman with two-toned hair and a furry sweater sat casually swinging her leg against the chair, sipping a large cup of what Emma suspected was a latte by the tempting smell wafting towards her.
How did she get a latte in Storybrooke? Why can't I get one those?
"Um..." Emma began, unsure if maybe she should just leave.
Ursula placed a warm hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Emma, this is my friend, Cruella. She's been staying here with me. She also wants to help."
"Wait, I know you," Emma replied slowly, stepping closer to the lady in the chair. The memory of her was sort of foggy, but she definitely remembered that hair and smirk. "You helped rescue Pongo, the Dalmatian."
Cruella chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Of course, darling. I wouldn't dream of letting a beautiful dog like that get hurt." The woman lifted her chin and studied her. "Oh, my poor dear. You look like you've had quite the night. Sit down, relax. Ursula will make you some breakfast and you can tell us all about it."
While the thought of food sounded tempting, the thought of sharing what was going on with her sounded akin to torture. So Emma sat in silence, observing the way the new lady smiled at nothing but whatever thoughts were in her head. She sighed, her own thoughts a jumble of confusion and pain.
"Darling, worrying yourself like that will only add wrinkles to that lovely skin of yours." Cruella said suddenly.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious about her appearance, Emma glared at the woman and quipped, "I don't need beauty tips from someone who wears more makeup than a circus clown."
She didn't miss the flash of white-hot anger that sparkled in the woman's eyes before she schooled herself back into her previous friendly manner. Emma smiled to herself, at least pleased to see that her instincts were still intact.
"I assure you, darling, I always know what I'm talking about."
Of course you do. Especially when you're lying, Emma smirked to herself.
After a meal of hot oatmeal with cinnamon and fruit and her own mug of coffee, Emma started to feel more relaxed around the two women. At least here, she knew where she stood. Ursula and Cruella were chatting on about various goings on around town and Emma's mind drifted. All of her instincts were telling her that these woman were hiding something from her. Not like her parents, who she thought she trusted implicitly, only to feel like they too were keeping something from her. It was that unsettled feeling of something she couldn't quite put her finger on that bothered her the most. Sensing Emma's willingness to finally talk, Ursula joined her on the sofa, offered her an understanding ear.
"Do you ever worry that having magic means no one will ever understand you?" Emma asked distractedly.
"What do you mean?"
Staring down into the cream-colored coffee, Emma frowned and said, "My parents. I killed that Chernabog to save the town and they act like it was…I don't know…something evil. Like I'm evil. Every time my magic goes just a little bit haywire, they act like I'm going to burn the town down or something." She ran a hand through her already tangled hair. "Maybe they're right to be afraid of me."
To her surprise, the sea goddess just laughed. "Of course they are! You are strong and powerful. You can do things others merely dream of. Deep down, they want to control you because they are jealous. How many times would having magic helped them save the day?"
Those words struck her. She knew that playing the hero and doing the right thing was of the highest importance to her parents. It's how she wound up in this world alone after all. What wouldn't they do for the chance to keep everyone safe? She bit her lip in frustration. "Or save each other. Maybe you are right. I mean, my mom always claims to do the right thing, but I know she's done some questionable things at times, dad too, probably."
Ursula drew herself up to her full height, proudly demonstrating that she was not a push-over either. "See, they fear what they don't understand and they always will. That's why you need friends like us. We have magic. We've had friends and family betray us, try to use us, fear us. It hurts. But the only way to make it better is to rise above it and come out victorious. You might never make them understand you, but you don't have to ever be afraid of them."
Never be afraid? Could she really have that sort of security in her life? Most of her life had been spent in fear—fear of being alone, abandoned, fear of heartache and of loss. Who would she be if she wasn't afraid? Who could she be?
Against her better judgment, Ursula's words were really starting to get to her. She felt her heart aching with the promises she was offering, even though her head was cautioning her to be wary (like it always did, and wasn't that the root of her fears anyway? Maybe she should just throw caution to the wind. It worked with Hook, it worked with Henry. Maybe it could work with her magic, too.)
"Yes, darling. Why do you waist your potential on people who are like that anyway? Why not start taking care of yourself. Ask yourself, if you didn't have anyone to be held accountable to, what would you do with your magic?"
That question stopped her cold. Emma furrowed her brow, feeling a bit scattered, but growing more confident about what she wanted. "I… I'd want to stop being afraid that everyone will leave me. I want to be able to make sure people stay when they say they will." After a moment, she added with a little bit more anger, "And that they'll never lie to me."
"Well, then, perhaps you should cross your parents off that list. Hello, Emma." A new voice rang out from the back hallway. Emma spun around to see a distinguished-looking blonde in a fedora and grey suit. The woman was leaning propped against the wall with her arms crossed and studying Emma like she was an interesting species of insect.
It made her blood boil to feel that exposed. Wouldn't be great to wipe that condescending look off her face? Maybe see the fear in her eyes? A cold voice whispered in her mind.
Where had that come from? And why was her magic already flickering at her fingertips?
"Who the hell are you?" Emma growled, forcing her magic back before she blasted a complete stranger for no reason other than she was looking at her strangely.
The blonde smiled, her lips perfectly red, but her eyes a cold blue. "My name is Maleficent. I believe we've met before." She paused to let her introduction sink in, buy Emma had already half-way guessed the woman's identity.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I killed you once. It was rather easy, as I recall," Emma sneered.
The woman shrugged off being ran through with a sword like it was no big deal and continued on pleasantly, much to Emma's surprise. "But that's all water under the bridge now. I came here today to thank you. Rumpelstiltskin put me in that horrible hat, and if it hadn't been for you, I'd still be there. So I owe you."
Shocked, Emma frowned at her, her irritation draining away. "Don't worry about it. What did you mean about my parents, though?"
A knowing smirk played about Maleficent's lips. She waved one hand in the air with a nonchalant motion. "Your parents are not the bastions of goodness they profess to be. Far from it. And they have been lying to you about that for a very long time."
Emma could feel her anger rising. Who the hell did this lady think she was? "My parents don't lie to me."
That cold voice that sounded an awful lot like her own responded with 'Are you sure about that?'
Maleficent stepped closer, tilting up her chin so that she could look Emma in the eye. She raised a brow in challenge and lowered her voice. "Don't they? Emma, all parents lie to their children, you just didn't get to experience that at an early age like the rest of us. But I am referring to something else. Something they did to an innocent. Something evil and cruel." Her voice caught ever so slightly on the last word, and her eyes were shiny with the emotions she was trying to conceal.
"What are you talking about?" Emma demanded, and despite her earlier anger, found herself feeling curious about what Maleficent was hinting at, and even a bit sorry for her. Could her parents have hidden something from her? Would they do that to her? Oh, god. They had been acting sort of strange lately. What if it was true?
Emma stared at Maleficent trying to see the truth in her eyes. And when she spoke, Emma felt her whole world crash apart and burn to the ground with the utter sense of devastation her words wrought. "They stole my child from me," Maleficent stated simply. "They traded her away her soul for the chance to ensure that you would never be evil. They were so afraid of you, even before you were born, that they committed an act of utmost villainy to keep you 'good'."
"No…I… I don't believe you," Emma said trying with every ounce of her control not to cry, not to let them see her weakness and doubt. Maybe she owed her parents that much. But her hands itched and burned with sparks of unruly magic, and her heart felt utterly desolate.
She had thought she would never feel this way again, this empty, lost feeling. It was so much like all those other times she had been betrayed – Ingrid and the car, Neal and the watches, Walsh and his lies -but only this time, it was so much worse because this was her parents. Her parents who she had given her complete trust to, had believed in, had tried so hard for. And now they had broken that trust.
Broken her.
Maleficent merely shook her head sadly, like she understood just what Emma was feeling. "Yes you do. Unlike them, I have no reason to lie to you. Unlike them, I was never afraid of my child." She finally stepped away, collapsing against the fireplace hearth before turning back towards Emma. "I wasn't always this way, you know. Once, I was a benevolent fairy. I granted wishes, I helped people. I tried to help them. And they betrayed me! They traded my daughter's essence, her magic, for your own. And after, I told them that I would still love my daughter, no matter what her magic was like, and they said they couldn't take the chance of releasing that sort of evil upon the world. So they sent her away, and I've never been able to find her." The truth of every word stung Emma, just like she had been stabbed repeatedly in her chest. There was no denying the truth when she could so clearly see the eyes of a mother who had lost everything staring back at her. She had those eyes once. Sometimes, she still did.
"I am so sorry," Emma choked out, her voice ragged and raw. "What…. Is there anything I can do?" Her heart wasn't really in it, but Maleficent didn't seem bothered. Normally, this was exactly what her job as Savior demanded of her. That was who her parents had made her after. The Savior. The one to bring back the happy endings. But today, she just didn't have it in her to play that role anymore. All she could see was red hot fire. Rage like she had never felt before bubbling just below the surface.
The only thing stopping her was a small, plaintive voice struggling to remind her that her parents did what they did because they cared.
If they really cared, they wouldn't have lied, that cold voice responded. It was louder now than it had ever been. If they cared, they would have kept you. So why do you still care about them?
"Stop pandering to them," Maleficent offered, as if hearing her thoughts. "Live your life. Be you. That is what your parents have never understood about magic. It isn't inherently good or bad. It's just power. You make the choices." She rose up before her, driving home her point with a meaningful look.
Ursula and Cruella stood up and joined her, each placing a hand upon her shoulder, like friends offering support. "And what do you choose now, Emma?" Ursula asked.
Deep in the back of her mind, that small voice was trying desperately to remind her that there were people out there who she cared about- Henry, her parents, the town, Killian—but her heart just couldn't feel the emotions she used to feel towards them. It was already too hard, too cold. All she felt was hurt and anger and a need to protect herself. After all, looking after herself was what she was best at. And now, she thought, the magic in her body flickering to life in a red glow around her hands, I have the power to make sure no one could ever hurt me that way again.
"I choose me," Emma stated.
…
Killian chose Emma. Long ago, before he was even fully aware he had made the choice. He chose Emma. Over his revenge, over his own desires. Over everything. It had saved him from the darkness.
Like always, it had started with the best of intentions. He had followed his need to put her first, to protect her, to do whatever it took to keep her safe, and had accomplished the near impossible task of retrieving the dagger from the place he had hidden it. To save her from the crocodile and his attempts to destroy her.
Well, that was the original idea, anyway.
But now that the dagger was once more in his hand, the metal turning his skin to ice, as a low hum vibrated up his arm, his intent had changed. He had changed.
Killian might have chosen Emma, but Hook… Hook chose himself.
It all came at him like a rush of adrenaline the second he had touched the cursed blade. Whether it was a result of the Emma's curse, or whether it was something to do with the blade, it mattered not. Darkness slid over him before he could even blink, before he had a chance to fight it, just like he had been waiting all along for any chance to fall back to old habits. At last, he could taste his long awaited revenge. It didn't even matter if he could remember the reasons why he wanted to kill the imp, he just felt the need to make someone pay.
It felt indescribably good to hold that cold, hefty piece of metal in his hand. With it came his old mantle, the old familiar darkness that he had dwelled in so long. Oh, how he had missed it! But this was different than the black pit of despair that he had so long lived under. Then, he had been guided by a purpose dedicated to the destruction of one man, to ease his pain and find release. Now, his darkness sought a different purpose. He wanted more.
His thoughts raced with all the power he wielded, and what he could do with that power. He wanted to hurt others, to make people cower under him, to make the world pay for all that he had suffered. And of course, all he had to do was kill one little crocodile. Why had it ever been so hard? (And if his heart was throbbing out a name, pleading with him to remember that he needed to save her, then his heart was deficient and he probably should take the earliest opportunity he could to remove it.)
His plan was simple. All he had to do was find Belle. She was the crocodile's love, therefore, she was his weakness. So it was only a matter of time before that imp showed up to collect his lovely wife, especially if she was threatened. Sure, he could have summoned that demon to him at any time, but really, where was the fun in that?
Besides, he wanted his revenge to be the stuff of legends. It had been a long time coming after all.
….
It was amazing what happened when she stopped fighting and just gave in. Why had she ever been so opposed to using her magic like this? There was no more guilt, no more worries, everything just felt right.
And how her magic just flowed in response. Raw and angry and potent. She knew she could do anything she wanted to. Absolutely anything. It was so exhilarating to feel this free and powerful. This was the feeling she had been missing her whole life. That scared little lost girl was no more. Now she was…invincible.
Why had she tried to deny who she really was for so long? She was Emma. She was power. She was magic. No one could stop her.
"Alright there, darling?" Cruella asked, her and the other two witches joining her on her overlook.
She turned to her three new sisters and her face twisted into a malicious smirk. "I'm perfect," she answered.
Right over the center of town a large, black thunderhead had just started to form, its diaphanous edges spreading out like a giant clawed hand. The makings of a storm of epic proportions. Emma stood at the edge of the cliff looking down into the town. Her town now. And wasn't that a wonderful concept? First she would rule Storybrooke, then who knew…maybe the rest of the world? Everyone would be her devoted servants. No one else could ever harm her again. Or they would pay.
Maleficent was the first to respond to her, the black fairies own dark magic thrumming in response to the evil pulsing in Emma's veins. "Good. Let's say we push your boundaries a little. You've been hurt by those people down there, right? That's why you came here today. So, let's say you give them a little taste of the new and improved Emma Swan. Let's show them who their Savior really is."
…..
Belle looked over at Will. He was engaged in his book, halfway hidden in the shadows, but every once and a while he would look up and give her a reassuring smile. She smiled back, momentarily able to keep the worry about Killian and Rumple at bay. She wasn't having much luck looking for a way to reverse a curse like that which had been inflicted upon Emma, but she wasn't ready to give up hope yet. This was her domain, where she felt strongest. Her library. Her books. All the knowledge in the world held in such seemingly harmless things. So what if she hadn't found the answers yet. There were still a lot more books she could look through. She just needed time.
Unfortunately, Belle's time had run out.
The door to the library opened with a tiny ding and the resulting pressure change caused her to look up. Belle blinked in confusion at the man standing in the doorway, the fading sunlight illuminating him from behind so that his face was indiscernible. "Killian? You've come back?"
He took two strides forward, shutting the door behind him as he went and flashed her a soft smile which seemed genuine enough. "Sorry, love. Didn't mean to disappear on you. How is the research going?"
Belle frowned, wandering if maybe Snow and David had been wrong about Killian. He seemed perfectly normal, happy even. Except for the dark looks he kept shooting Will from the corner of his eye. But they had never gotten along anyway, so she wasn't too worried. Still, she was wary of trusting the man in front of her, especially after the all-night discussion she had just come from. Will, too, had put down his book and was watching Killian just as carefully, clearly worried about what he might do.
Slipping her hand into the pocket of her skirt, Belle gripped the small potion bottle she had received from Regina as protection should Killian indeed prove violent. He watched her every movement with hawk-like precision and Belle knew she would have to throw him off his guard. She forced herself to smile brightly with just the right amount of apology in her eyes. "I'm afraid I'm not having much luck. Whatever Rumple did to Emma must be very old magic. I haven't been able to find any information on the exact nature of the curse at all."
He turned away with a curt nod, his jaw clenching. It was a gesture she had seen on him many times already and it was enough to cause her to let her guard down ever so slightly. He cleared his throat before looking back at her, all sad-eyes and furrowed brows. "Aye, well, I know you'll get there. You always do. In the meantime, though, don't you think it best if we take some sort of precautions against the crocodile's return?"
This confused her. Did he know about the meeting last night? Was this some sort of ploy to find out what she knew about Rumple's whereabouts? Or was this just genuine concern? "What do you mean?"
"The dagger. I'm assuming you still have it. Maybe it's time to use it and stop this nonsense." He crossed the room until he was standing opposite her across the check-out counter. In the corner of her eye, she could see Will standing up and creeping up behind him silently.
Belle heart seized up, pieces slotting into place in her mind. If he didn't know about the dagger, there was no way this was Killian. It made sense now, the attitude, the soft, sad looks. There was only one person who could disguise himself so perfectly. Rumple.
She smiled back nervously, stepping around the counter and towards the door, knowing exactly what she needed to do. "Yes, of course. Why don't I get it and meet you back here—"
"No need, darling. It's right where it should be," The real Killian announced. She had been so engaged with her conversation and observation of Rumple/Killian, that she had entirely missed the opening of the door once more. There was no mistaking this Killian. He was standing at the entrance with the dagger held outstretched in his hands, his blue eyes now a deep black and his mouth set in a grim sneer of triumph. Belle shuddered and clenched the potion tighter in her hand, fearing that its magic might not be enough to protect her after all. She turned to see Will looking between the two men in confusion, and she shook her head at him to warn him off trying to get between these two. Will cocked an eyebrow but nodded slowly in acknowledgement and instead began approaching her side.
Killian, or Hook now, it seemed, raised the dagger higher in the air, the last of the sunlight tracing a red glow along its edge like it was already dipped in blood. "Looking for this, Crocodile?"
The Killian in front of her shimmered briefly out of focus before morphing into Rumple. He frowned and clenched his teeth together. Suddenly, he turned back to Belle, his face, once full of love, held only anger and accusation. "You gave the dagger to him?"
Belle pulled herself up, hurt by his words. After all this time, he still clearly cared more for his magic than for her and it still stung viciously. "Yes I did. Because unlike you, he really had changed and I trusted him to do the right thing."
"Belle, how could you?" Rumple admonished.
Suddenly, she saw red. "How could you, Rumple? How dare you accuse me of trying to protect myself and my friends!" She yelled, willing herself not to let this man destroy her emotionally any longer. She turned so that she could see Will, who was still not close enough to reach out for her just yet, but who was trying nonetheless, offering her his support however he could. It made her feel a little bit stronger, and she knew that she could do this.
Hook barged in, a look of indifference on his face. Belle once again noticed his eyes were not their usual blue, and that filled her with a deep fear. "Not that I don't enjoy a good row, but let's say we take this conversation somewhere where we won't be interrupted?" He flashed the dagger and gave Rumple a pointed look. "Dark One, if you would be so kind," Hook taunted.
In a flash of smoke, the three of them suddenly disappeared from the library and appeared at the very place where they were last all together-the clock tower.
Killian laughed, a cruel sound that Belle hadn't heard from him since before he had shot her. Her heart sank. It was too late. Will had been left behind, Hook had absolute control of the Dark One, and all she had at her defense was a little bottle of magic knock-out potion and her wits.
It felt hopeless. Except… Will wasn't here. That meant that hopefully he had escaped and would go to get help. She clutched at the thought for all she was worth, because looking at the faces of the two mortal enemies in front of her, she was positive that no one was making it out of this unscathed.
…
Mary Margaret sighed, closing up the ancient, leather-bound manuscript, and collapsing onto the sofa in Regina's living room. Her heart was so heavy, she felt as though she could break into tears at any moment. It seemed like crying was all she had been doing lately. Crying and worrying. And damn it! She was Snow White! There had to be something more she could do. The lack of answers was the worst part. "Regina, I've looked through all of these books and there is nothing here!"
"Mom, what if we can't undo this?" Henry asked nervously from his place at the other end of the sofa, clinging to his storybook as if it were a lifeline. Snow's shoulders fell and she pulled her grandson into a quick hug.
Regina put her own book aside and scanned the faces of the remaining group. Mary Margaret looked like she had completely lost all hope, David looked worried for his wife but trying to hide it, and Henry… Her son looked defeated. It was a look he should never have. Henry was the truest believer, and if he couldn't believe in a way to help Emma, then… She had to stop this. Right now. Regally, with all the calm authority of her queenly status, Regina looked her son in the eye and declared, "No, Henry. There is always a way. You taught me that. We will find it and we will save Emma."
Surprisingly, her pep talk seemed to work. Henry nodded faintly and gave her a thankful smile. David, already looking for a reason to rally around a cause, immediately perked up. "C'mon Mary Margaret. Why don't you take a break? Granny has Neal back at the loft. Why don't you go and sit with him for a little bit. I'll keep looking."
"David—" Mary Margaret started, feeling the overwhelming need to keep looking.
But as the door to the house crashed inward with an explosive groan, they all realized that their searches were at an end. Time was up. Before she could react, Regina was thrown against a far wall, her arms and head restrained and her magic difficult to access. At the door stood a woman, one of three women whom Regina had hoped never to see again.
Cruella shrugged up her furry coat and smiled brightly to the gathered group. In a far-too-cheerful voice she said, "Hello, darlings! Sorry if we're interrupting. Thought you might like some more guests at your party. It was looking a bit dull. Really, Regina, I thought you knew how to entertain a crowd."
"Cruella? What are you doing here?" Regina spat, trying to maintain her dignity while also trying to break free from her invisible bonds. She glanced nervously at Henry who had thankfully darted to the shadows behind his grandparents. "Run out of gin at your kennel?"
"She's with us." A new voice sang out from behind.
Regina craned her head back to the door to see the silhouette of two more instantly recognizable figures. "Ursula and Maleficent. I should have guessed you three would be back together. Never were very good at doing things on your own. What do you want?" She asked with indifference.
"Oh, it's not what we want, darling. It's what she wants." Cruella said with a flourish of her hand and a head tilt to the center of the room behind her.
Suddenly, Henry's voice cried out, directing her attention towards him. "M…Mom?"
Struggling to get her head to turn in the other direction, Regina was just in time to witness Emma step away from a cloud of red smoke from which she had just materialized. Mary Margaret stepped forward towards her daughter pleadingly. "Emma? What…"
"I've come to have a little chat." Emma said in a voice almost as cold as the other three sorceresses in the room. As she moved closer to where Regina was pinned, she could see all the differences in the Swan woman since the last time they had spoken. It was unsettling. And a bit too much like looking into a mirror of her at her darkest. The Evil Queen Redux.
Emma had on a silken black dress, shot-through with ribbons of blood red and burnt orange. Her hair was a wild mix of braids and curls piled haphazardly atop her head. But it was her eyes were the real difference lay. Normally, Emma was subtle in her appearance, the very definition of a natural beauty, but now, her eyes were the color of a blazing inferno.
Regina could feel the evil emanating from Emma, her own magic being both pulled towards it and repelled as if it couldn't make up its mind if it wanted to be enemies or allies. For the first time, she worried about the safety of her own life, and more importantly, the lives of the people she cared about.
As quietly as she could, Regina turned to the prince, who was only a couple feet away. "David, get Henry out of here."
Mary Margaret was still trying to approach her daughter, trying to see past the evil creature that had taken her over. She was foolishly trying to reason with it and Regina sensed that whatever had pushed Emma to this point as far beyond reason. "Emma, please honey, I know you don't want to do this. I know this is just the curse and their influence," she motioned her hand toward the three witches who were strolling into Regina's living room like they owed the place.
Regina bit down hard on her tongue to keep from snarking at them to get out of her damn house, knowing it would only exacerbate the situation.
With a cold, hateful laugh, Emma yelled, "You don't know anything!" She flicked her wrist and sent her mother flying through the air, crashing into the wall and sprawling on the ground. David moved to rush to her side, but Emma froze him in place.
Regina shot a warning look at Henry to not do anything foolish. She tried to convey to him that whatever was happening, the woman here was not his mother. Henry seemed to take the hint, and though she could see the fear and sadness in his eyes, he moved away from Emma and towards his other mother.
If Emma noticed, she let him be, as she continued talking, circling around her parents like a vulture. "How could you? You've never made me a priority. I was never first to you!" In the background, Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella watched with her actions like she was their entertainment, like her darkness was a sport.
"That is not true!" Mary Margaret cried with more defiance than Regina would have given her credit for, pulling herself up to her knees. There was a small bruise on her cheek where she had hit the ground, and by the way her body moved, it seemed as if she had broken her arm as well. "You are always our priority. You are our daughter!"
Emma raised her voice, the building shaking with the force of it. "Oh really? Why did you send me away? Why didn't you come and find me in New York? Why were you so desperate to have another child?" The silence following her words hung in the air, as Mary Margaret and David tried to defend themselves. Suddenly, the air outside was disturbed by a cacophonous roar of magical thunder and for the first time, Regina noticed just how unnaturally dark it was outside. Whatever was happening here was clearly affecting the town as well.
"And why did you trade my magic for someone else's?" She said with so much raw anger and venom that Mary Margaret flinched.
It had become a showdown between mother and child. Emma was solely fixed on Snow, while Regina, David, and Henry were all but forgotten. Regina knew she would have to act quickly. Catching David's eye, she motioned to the three other witches and gestured with her eyes and head that he should take care of them if he got the chance. He nodded at her so slightly, no one else could have noticed.
Then, Regina looked over to Henry who wore an agonized expression as he watched Emma vent at Mary Margaret. Her heart ached so badly for him, but she knew out of everyone in the room, he was the least likely to be harmed. He turned to look at her and she smiled grimly before she shot him a pointed look at the door to a room where all her magic potions were hidden. She knew her son knew the items in the room well enough to be able to retrieve a suitable one for David and him to use. It was part of their discussions last night after all. And when Henry's brown, tear-filled eyes met hers they were filled with determination and understanding.
Now all she needed to do was keep Emma occupied—the hard way.
"Emma… those were the hardest decisions we've ever had to make. And every time, all we wanted was to give you the happiness you deserve." Mary Margaret explained. Her voice had lost some of the pleading quality as she was quickly starting to realize that this Emma was not really her daughter any longer. But it was obvious that it went against everything she believed in not to try and reason with her.
Emma leaned forward, chuckling into her mother's face. "The happiness that comes from being a hero? And how did you give that to me? By taking someone's soul? Great example on how to be a hero. Really, a bang up job you did there, Mary Margaret." Her smile turned into a cruel smirk as she flicked her hand towards her mother's chest. "But you know what, it's fine. I don't need you for my happiness any more. Really, I never did. I have all I need."
Regina jumped in, both feet first. "And what's that? Those three stooges? You really think they're your friends? They are just going to use you and leave. Trust me, I know." Emma looked up, chancing a look back at the three women who she had come here with. They hadn't heard what Regina had said, far too absorbed in what Emma was doing with her mother. All three of them wore the same hungry expression, like they just couldn't wait for her to finally do the deed she knew Emma had come to do.
Emma shot them a quick look, and grinned cruelly. "It's a good thing I wasn't talking about them," she answered the former Queen. Suddenly, she raised a hand in the air and Cruella flew into a nearby wall hard enough to shatter bone and leave a large hole. The other two witches stared at Emma in shock and tried to defend themselves.
"We were helping you," Maleficent sneered, raising her hand up to defend herself magically. But her magic seemed blocked somehow, and she blinked in confusion and fear.
"Yeah, well, thanks, but I can take care of myself. Besides, it's not like you weren't planning on betraying me." Emma flung out her hand and Maleficent was engulfed in a heavy cloud of red smoke which began choking the life from her. She then turned to Ursula and tilted her head. "Isn't that right?"
"We were your friends," Ursula replied, her well-hidden tentacles sneaking out and trying to attack.
"I don't need friends," Emma stated and her eyes darkened even farther until they were little more than blood-red embers. "I've never needed friends." She dodged an attempt by Ursula to strangle her and caught the tentacle with one hand. At her touch, the limb turned ashen white and began to dry up and crack, spreading upwards towards the woman, who was gritting her teeth and struggling to pull away.
Before anyone could blink, Ursula gave out an agonized scream as she turned to ash and was gone.
Mary Margaret let out a little whimper and David used Emma's distraction to rush to her side, pulling her tenderly towards him in a familiar embrace. If this was to be the way it ended for them, they would go together.
Regina had to stop this madness before it went any farther. "And what are you going to do now, Emma? Hurt your parents? Destroy the town? Take over the world?"
Emma chuckled and shrugged. "Maybe. That's what villain's do, isn't it? So let's just say that I have big plans." Her eyes flamed again with sinister glee.
With an internal sigh of relief, Regina noticed that Henry had made it out of the room while Emma was talking and she could only hope he had run for safety. "And what of our son? Where does he fit in with your plans?"
"Our son…" Emma said slowly, as if the words tasted badly on her tongue. "I think that might have to change."
They had gone down this path before in various ways. Really, she shouldn't be surprised by now. With an eye roll, Regina asked, "How? By killing me? I think we've been over this before. It won't work. He'll hate you, remember."
"Oh, well…" she huffed a sigh and shot her back her own eye roll. "It's not like it will matter when I erase his memories and we leave this town."
"Mom—" Henry gasped, now suddenly standing at the door to the potions room, his eyes large and scared and darting quickly between his two mothers.
Emma didn't even turn in his direction, her heart was hardened off to his feelings. Regina could tell that all that all Henry meant to Emma right now was that he was her possession. There was a very real possibility that he could get hurt. Regina couldn't let that happen. So, she grit her teeth and said, "I won't let you."
Emma flat out laughed in her face. "You know, Henry," Emma called out over her shoulder, "I could turn back time for you. Make you a baby and raise you up all by myself. Just you and me and Hook. A real family after all."
Regina frowned at her words, but was genuinely curious about how she had included Hook into her new life. Apparently, their bond still stood. Yet, what could she do with that information? "So you and the pirate are just going to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after? Are you sure he feels the same way as you?"
This seemed to be the right tactic to throw her because for the first time, Emma looked at her with genuine emotion. "Hook and I understand each other. He'll do whatever I ask him to do."
Using what she knew of Emma's fears and weakness against her, Regina said, "You don't seem so certain. Trouble in paradise?"
"Of course I'm sure. Hook and I are the same. We share everything," She said with confidence.
"Oh yeah? If that's true, then where is he?" Regina smirked, raising her eyebrow in queenly defiance.
"He's..." The fire in Emma's eyes flickered and for just the briefest of moments it changed back to its normal green. And then, the moment was over, but Regina knew that the key to breaking through to Emma, perhaps even breaking the curse was her connection to the pirate. Suddenly, her body straightened and her voice took on the cold menace she had adopted earlier as new resolve flooded her eyes. "He's none of your business. Now, let's get this over with so I be with my son."
"Over my dead body," Regina growled.
"That's not going to be a problem," Emma shrugged.
"No," Henry yelled desperately. "I'd never want to forget about my mom." Emma flinched ever so slightly and Regina was quick to catch it, too. It was becoming more and more obvious that somewhere in there, Emma still existed. The darkness hadn't yet consumed her completely, but it was a near thing and if she kept killing, than there would be no stopping her. Especially if Emma was to kill the people who loved her the most.
"I'd never want to go back. Please don't do this, mom," Henry begged, and Regina's heart broke for him.
But Henry's pleas could no longer touch Emma's heart, not even his tears could sway her. "Henry, it's for the best, and once it's over, you'll never know. But don't worry, I'll let you say goodbye." Her eyes darted to her mother who was still cradled in David's arms.
Regina could sense what was coming, she had known it would end this way for a while. There was only one final step before she was lost to the darkness forever.
"You know, mom. This is all your fault." She stalked back over to where her parents were at, looking down on them with disdain.
"Emma!" David admonished.
"Oh, it's your fault too, dad," Emma added as if she was granting him a gift, before turning back to Mary Margaret. "But really, I blame you. It was your fears that kept you from trusting me. It was that damn holier-than-thou attitude you always flaunted that made me doubt myself. Ever since I met you, I just wanted to make you proud, to live up to your standards. But the truth is, you are just as fallible as anyone else. If you had supported my choices, if you had PUT ME FIRST," Emma screamed, lighting flashing to accentuate her words, "I doubt I would feel the need to do this…" And without warning, Emma's hand darted for her mother's chest.
"No!" Regina screamed, causing Emma to hesitate slightly and glare at her. As she did so, David grabbed his shock-still wife and rushed her away, gathering Henry as he went.
"You need to stay out of this, bitch," Emma seethed, trying to turn to where her parents were.
Regina put on her best smirk, doing her best to keep Emma's attention focused on her and knowing if there was one thing that would distract Emma, it was to piss her off. From the corner of her eye, she saw David, Snow, and Henry exchanging looks, and Henry handing something off to his grandfather. This was not going to end well.
"I don't think so, Miss Swan. This is my business. After all, it was my curse that made your parents abandon you. My need for revenge that made them so afraid of dark magic they made a terrible decision. So if you want to blame someone, you should blame me."
Emma glared as she mulled over Regina's words. "You're right. I do blame you. You took my son from me. You destroyed my life. You tried to kill me. Maybe I've been looking at this all wrong. If you hadn't been such a pain in the ass, then none of this would have happened."
"We never wanted to leave you, Emma," Mary Margaret pleaded, and Emma's focus once more shifted back to her mother.
Shut up, Snow, and let me handle this, Regina thought gruffly.
"That's right. But that still doesn't change the fact that they had to leave you because of my curse," Regina said, hoping it would be enough to dissuade Emma from going after her mother again.
It wasn't. Emma had already sought out her parents and was looking at them with murderous intent in her eyes. Regina knew that look all too well. Here goes nothing, she thought. Regina took a breath, gathering her thoughts. "Emma, wait! I know you don't want this, that part of you is still in there. You are a fighter Emma, so fight this darkness. Because if there is one thing I know, it's that killing a parent is a terrible burden. It forever changes you and there is no way to erase that."
Emma spun on her heels, her black dress swishing gracefully and small sparks of yellow flames tendril-ling off the edges. She glared at Regina like she had done years ago when they had tangled over Henry's welfare. "You don't understand. This is me! This is who I am! I chose this and I don't care if it changes me. In fact, I'm looking forward to never going back. Now, if you are done trying to distract me, I need to finish something."
Just before she turned back, David had taken the potion Henry had given him and had snuck up behind his daughter. With practiced aim and a slight flinch at having to hurt his daughter, he threw it at her, hitting her square in the chest.
Emma's eyes flew wide open as dark purple smoke swirled around her. Regina felt her invisible bonds loosen and she collapsed from the wall in a heap. She scowled and blinked, but her entire body stood frozen in the middle of the room, unable to move or use her magic. Everyone else seemed to let out the collective breath they had all been holding.
Regaining her composure, Regina rose up shakily as Henry rushed to her side. David and Mary Margaret approached slowly, their eyes never leaving the living statue that was their daughter.
"How long will that spell last?" David asked.
Regina hugged Henry tighter and replied. "Long enough to find a way to reverse the curse."
Mary Margaret stepped out of David's arm and closer to her daughter. Her eyes were swimming with tears as she lifted a hand like she wanted to cup Emma's face, even though Emma's eyes were stilled fiery and now full of quiet, seething rage. She blinked away the tears and dropped her hand. "Regina, are you sure we can reverse it? She… she's killed three people."
At her side, Henry shuddered and Regina pulled him close. "We'll get her back, Snow. Don't you lose hope. Not now."
Snow turned to Regina, taking her hand in her own and stretching out her other hand to David so that all four of them together could form a circle. Snow looked up a Regina and gave her the tiniest smile of thanks.
And then, all hell broke loose as a blast of magic so strong it echoed across the room like a canon blasted all them apart, knocking everyone to the ground.
"I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO FIX ME!" Emma commanded, fire encircling her feet as she stalked forward. Her eyes were fixed on Regina once more, who was struggling to shield herself with her magic.
From across the room, Snow was screaming, "You can't do this Emma!"
"The hell I can't!" Emma sneered, stopping inches from the former Evil Queen's fallen form.
Emma started to turn, her eyes already seeking out her mother. Regina knew she was out of choices. Desperately, but bravely, she cried, "If you want to take a heart so badly, take mine."
"Fine," Emma remarked almost casually, as she punched her hand straight into Regina's chest. A second later, she pulled back, her palm full of a glowing red heart. Only a few patches of black could be seen swirling about and for that, at least, Regina was glad.
"Mom!" Henry screamed, and David grabbed him around the middle to keep him away. He struggled desperately to break loose, but David wouldn't let him go.
Emma bent down, so close that Regina could see the swirls of black in her fire-tinged eyes. "I just want you to know before I kill you, that you have achieved nothing. You talk about being evil, but what kind of a villain are you? You were weak, useless. All of your plans failed. I'm a better at magic than you could ever hope to be. And I will be a better mother as well." With that, she began to squeeze.
"I'm not a villain. I'm a hero," Regina replied. Emma squeezed again and Regina tried not to cry out, trying to spare Henry that at least, but the pain was too great. And then, just when she was sure her life was over, the pain just stopped.
"Snow? Dave? Mate?" A new, unfamiliar voice rang out.
"What the hell?" Emma said, almost sounding like her old self for a second, the heart momentarily forgotten in light of the new player on the board.
Will Scarlett stood in the open doorway, a confused expression on his face. "Um, sorry to interrupt."
Instantly, Emma reeled on him, poofing up next to him a second later. With her magic, she lifted him by the neck one-handed so that he was a full foot off the ground, legs kicking madly. Regina's heart beat on, all but forgotten in her other hand. "Give me one reason not to blast you into ash, worm!" She snapped.
With choked-out breaths, Will cried, "Cause if you do, you're boyfriend's gonna kill Gold an' become the next Dark One!"
Emma dropped Will unceremoniously onto the ground as her lips set themselves in a tight line. "Well, we can't have that, can we?" She said cryptically. She looked back into the room where her parents, son, and Regina all were gathered. With a slight wave of her hand, the room was encased in a hazy red glow. "Don't go anywhere. I just need to take care of something."
Emma turned back to Will, grabbing him by the collar, as she batted her lashes and smiled coyly. "Now, how about you tell tell where he is, so that we can make sure he doesn't do anything foolish with that dagger, hmm?"
...
Next: More Dark!Emma and Hook, Belle and Rumple, and someone pays the ultimate price...
REVIEWS KEEP ME GOING! So...Review please!
