As always, please enjoy (or don't - that might be what this chapter wants...)

The castle of the Dark One loomed over the group as they crept nearer, pressing themselves against its rough, red outer walls and beneath its golden windows. Hiding amongst the overgrown bushes that must have once been luxurious, they huddled together.

"This is it," Emma said, looking around at each of them. "We'll be dealing with some pretty serious stuff in there, so this is your last chance to pull out."

"And miss out on all the fun?" Killian said.

"This is our fight," Emma said. "We don't want anyone caught in the crossfire unnecessarily."

He smirked – smiling in front of the house of the Dark One of all places! – and Emma nodded.

"We're still in, lass."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Milah give him a flirtatious wink.

"So Emma and I will cast a protection spell when we enter the room," Regina said. "It won't hold against the Dark One forever, but it can keep him at bay. Captain, you'll be ready with the squid ink."

"Aye, but I've been thinking," Killian said. "Perhaps Milah can hold the ink. I need my hands free for my sword – it doesn't feel right to go into battle without it."

"A sword won't be any match for him," Robin said, "but I know the feeling. I can't go without my bow either."

Killian passed Milah the satchel, their hands brushing playfully, even in this serious moment, and she hung it over her shoulder. For them, this really was another adventure. For Emma, it was life or death.

"Okay, so that leaves Robin and Hook to search the room," Emma said. "Robin, you're happy lead the way?"

"It seems as though I'm the one best acquainted with the place, having broken in before," Robin replied.

"If you don't mind me asking, mate, what happened?" Killian asked. It was the question that Emma and Regina had been itching to ask ever since he attempted to rob them on the beach.

Robin looked pensive, deliberating for a moment, as though he were fearful of sharing. He averted his eyes as he spoke.

"My wife, Marian, was sick," he began. Emma saw Regina stiffen slightly, even more attentive. "She was expecting our first child and I was desperate to heal her. Someone in a neighbouring village suggested a magic wand, and we'd all heard of the Dark One's hoard. So I went to steal it. I can't tell you how painful it is to have had it within my grasp, literally brushing my fingertips. But I was caught. I was arrogant to think that just because I was a skilled thief that I could outwit the Dark One. I barely escaped with my life."

The group was utterly silent. Considering their current undertaking, it was a sobering tale.

"I'm sorry, mate," Killian said, breaking the stillness. "I can't imagine losing my wife. It must be a hollow feeling."

"It is. More than hollow, it's harrowing. It's debilitating," Robin replied. "I searched for other magical objects to heal her from all across the land, getting myself cursed in the process. It was all in vain. Marian died not long after."

Silence lingered between the group. No one asked about his child. They did not need to.

Emma looked around the group; she knew the Dark One – she'd even been a dark one. The stakes suddenly felt alarmingly high. She turned to look at Regina.

"Are we doing the right thing?"

"Probably not, but what other choices do we have?" Regina said. "We don't belong here, Emma. The only way we'll get back to Henry is if we get that wand."

"We've already come too far," Robin said. "And I've got nothing to lose."

"Aye," said Killian, "let's go."

Robin showed them round to a back entrance of the castle, a set of tall, wide, wooden double doors that were overgrowing with ivy. Captain Jones ripped through the tough vines with his sword, before Regina used her magic to unlock it. As it swung open, cold air emptied out, chilling them before they'd even set a foot inside; the cloudless morning held more warmth than the dark extravagance held within.

As Robin quietly led the way, each of the group were constantly look around, watching doorways and creeping around corners, ears pricked. Emma noticed Regina's concerned glances at the leader of their party. As they came closer to what Robin had described as the trophy room, Emma caught Regina's arm.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

"Of course," said Regina quietly, furtively glancing down the corridor. "Well, no, obviously not."

"What happened to Robin is definitely not what happened in Henry's story book."

"No."

"What could have been so different?" Emma whispered. "I never had interactions with him or Marian, how could his life have been so different without a saviour?"

Robin beckoned them down an ornate but neglected corridor, which led them to only one room. Regina whispered in a hurried tone.

"To cut a long story short, without me, there was no Belle here. Without Belle, Gold had no conscience and therefore showed no mercy. And Gold without mercy… well, you don't need me to expand on that."

"No, I don't," Emma said, "but Regina –"

"Shhh!"

The door swung open at Robin's touch, and they entered, shutting it quietly behind them. The room was cluttered with treasures and trinkets covering every surface and filling every cabinet. It reminded Emma of Gold's shop in Storybrooke – alarmingly so, for there were some things in there that she recognised: a pale white globe; a dream catcher; a gilt sword.

"Okay, Regina, Emma," Captain Jones said, "cast your spells. Milah, by the door. Hood – let's get looking."

They split around the wide room, Emma and Regina raising their hands and willing all they could to protect the chamber. As Killian and Robin began looking around for the magic wand, Milah pointed and called across the room.

"There, Killian," she called in hushed tones from her position by the door. "I see it in that cabinet."

Killian crossed the room quickly, pulling open the glass fronted door and reaching to take it. Emma turned, putting down her hands to see their target, when he let out a bloodcurdling cry. Emma could only see the blood splatter against the back of the glass before he fell to the floor, clutching his wrist.

The words that followed chilled down her spine.

"That's mine, deary!"

DUH DUH DUUUUUUUHHHHHH!

Next chapter will be up soon :)

Emily x