The mid-day sky darkened over like a solar eclipse, followed by a swarm of fog and gale force winds. The people of Storybrooke fled to the nearest buildings to seek cover from the epic storm rising up from within the town in only a matter of seconds. Just moments before, the sky was a spotless blue, with birds whisking through the air spreading joy with ease. Now the town was under attack, but it wasn't a natural storm. Emma had uncovered a trap to conceal her so that her loved ones could perform a rare and incredibly difficult purifying spell on her to remove her dark powers. No one expected the once Savior to act so drastically though, she had controlled the Dark One inside her with ease up until this point, the light within her never yielding to the dark. But her parents had kept the purifying spell a secret, afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it. Regina had argued against keeping the secret, saying that Emma had proven to be in control of the dark forces inside her. She warned them of what could happen, and now they were all paying the price as she feared.

Several Dwarfs were lifted off the ground and tossed into the nearest structure, Archie only managed to stay upright due to the impressible strength of Pongo pulling him from the storm before it could engulf them and even Ruby and Granny had a hard time blockading the entrance to the diner as debris crashed into their front window. After shedding part of the town hall, Emma used it to seal Belle and Gold in the library, her magic overpowering everyone around her. The only ones safe were Henry and Neal. Somehow she was able to hold back until they were ushered to the manor by Regina who now stood in the middle of the street, her arm shielding her face as the wrath of the Dark Swan ripped up building after building searching for her parents.

"You've lied for the last time mom and dad," Emma bellowed through the storm as if she had a megaphone, but Snow and Charming were nowhere to be found.

Regina hated what Emma was doing to the town, but if she allowed the Dark One to claim vengeance on her parents the light within her would be forever lost. Luckily, the Charmings didn't have time to argue with Regina's plan as she transported them to her vault and sealed them away, poofing out before either one could get a word in. They had no choice but to stay where they were and wait. Regina did her best to perform a few protection spells on the buildings containing the townspeople, but Emma's powers only seemed to intensify, creating a tunnel cloud surrounding her so that no one could reach her.

"Emma," Regina cried barely able to stay on her feet, let alone take a step in her direction. She jerked her fingers outward creating a transparent magical shield so that the flying debris didn't knock her over, but the force of the wind was too much for any spell she could muster to help break through the Dark One's storm. She knew transported herself into the funnel would be even more dangerous. If her landing was off, even by the slightest inch, the tunnel cloud would suck her up and kill her.

Regina began to push through the wind with a sweeping spell hoping to get a little closer so that Emma could see her. "Emma" she cried again her voice cracking afraid for the Savior. They were so close to ridding her of this wretched curse only to have everything torn apart with one slip up of Snow. She didn't blame Mary Margaret, she understood that all she wanted was to help, but revealing that they had something to help Emma get passed this only triggered her curiosity and once Emma discovered the purifying spell she smothered it into ashes with her bare hand. Now they were left with two options, an act of true love or death, and one of them needed to happen now.

Regina knew she was crazy to think that she could be the one to finally break through this, but it was clear that the lives of everyone in town were on the line. She didn't have time to think things over, just somehow get to Emma and hope what she was feeling inside was true.

Regina shot out a bright flash hoping to get Emma's attention, but the tar thick fog only blocked it from her sight. Regina barreled through another few steps praying her shield would hold and shined the light again, this time catching a quick glimpse of Emma's eye. "Emma," she tried, but it was useless, the winds were roaring all around them, even if she were standing directly in front of Emma she wouldn't hear her call. Regina began to feel bits of air sweeping pass her leg, her shied was starting to break down. She was running out of time. She shook away her fear and continued on though. She took another few steps and shot out another burst of light, nothing. Regina's focused was solely on Emma, she didn't have time to react when a branch from a nearby tree tore off and came spiraling toward her. It slashed her side and ripped through her blouse, but she ignored the pain and the blood that began to drip down her leg and pressed on.

"Emma, please," she continued to call out knowing it was useless. Regina's anger flared up and she sent a powerful blinding flash straight through the wind tunnel. This time Emma's head turned toward her, her eyes a hazy white from concentrating on the havoc she created. Regina stared directly into her, trying to squeeze herself behind what was left of her shield. A flash of green broke through the sickly white in Emma's eyes as she took in Regina's battered state. She could see the fight in Emma as her eyes flickered from good to evil with each blink. The storm over the town slowly began to die down, leaving only the funnel encircling Emma. Regina kept her shield up though knowing everything could spiral back just as quickly as it faded. She now faced a similar scene. The last time there was an oily thick wind tunnel in town it had trapped Regina, and Emma had sacrificed herself to save her from this very life.

"Regina, what are you doing?" Emma asked frightened, the dark forces inside her still fighting behind her eyes.

Regina let out an uncomfortable laugh, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Emma's face scrunched up not understanding, but Regina felt the lighter she kept things the better chance she had in breaking through to her. "Also, Henry wanted me to tell you he's cooking for us tomorrow night."

The licorice wind began to thin out as Emma smiled. Regina wanted to take another step forward, but knew it was still too risky.

"What's he cooking?" Emma pressed on gaining more control.

"Spaghetti."

Emma chuckled, the funnel lightening with each new shine of laughter. "Italian huh, is that all the Mills family knows how to make?"

"Of course not, we can make a variety of dishes, next time you can choose."

"Deal."

Regina's heart began to flutter as the wind died down even more, barely swirling around Emma now. All she had to do was take two steps and she could reach out for her, she could bring Emma back entirely and they could continue to learn to live with her as the Dark One. All they needed to do was get through this. Regina smiled as she went to take a step only to be pushed back by the spiraling wind. She shot her gaze up at Emma, her eyes flickering from green to hazy white again. What happened? Regina thought, following Emma's gaze over her shoulder to find the Charmings coming up behind her. Of course. These two had an act of getting out of any situation Regina put them in, whether it was for their own protection or not. But she had no time to scold them. The wind tunnel darkened and began to pick up speed, and fast, while the storm once again roared to life and blocked out the sun. Time was up.

"No," Regina screamed, and lunged through the funnel using as much magic as she could muster to propel herself forward. The wind was too powerful though and snatched her up before she could reach Emma. She lost control of her body as it began to spin while a sickening dizzy feeling took over her mind just as quickly, "no," she mumbled through a forced sealed mouth jetting her hand out and miraculously seized Emma's arm. The ugly black wind tunnel they were trapped in melted into a zig zag of red and yellow smoke circling around her and Emma. The Charmings stopped where they were and watched as the colorful cloud created a blanket around the two of them and gracefully brought them to the ground like a feather.

Regina's head was still spinning, but as she glanced up she realized she was cradled in Emma's arms. "It worked?" she mumbled unable to move. Emma didn't responded, she just tightened her hold on her. "Emma," Regina whispered, nudging at her cheek with her nose.

"Did that really just happen?" She asked shakened.

Regina let out a simple chuckle, "the cushioned cloud? Yes dear, that really just happened."

"No, not that," Emma replied beginning to cry. "Did I really just go ballistic on the town?"

Regina didn't have to see her eyes to feel the Dark Ones presence still inside Emma. She may have stopped her from destroying Storybrooke, but that was it. "Emma," Regina wiggled slightly trying to get her hand out to turn her face, "look at me," but she didn't budge, "please." Regina added her voice cracking, terrified of losing her again. Emma obliged and turned her head, her glistening green eyes pleading for reassurance. "The town is still here."

But she shook her head the answer not enough, "people could be seriously hurt, or…killed."

Regina's arms were squished between their bodies, but she was able to squirm out her second hand and delicately grasped Emma's face to keep their eyes on each other. "Stop making assumptions. We'll fix this, together."

Emma closed her eyes, tears falling from her face. Regina kept her hands on her cheeks, trying to soothe away the fear with each gentle stroke of her thumbs, refusing to let go until she knew Emma found her footing. "Emma," she whispered, her heart beating so hard it muffled her voice. "You've had this darkest inside you for six months and have never let it out until today. Do you know how strong you are? Do you know how proud I am that you were able to break through that darkness after it tried to take over you just now?"

Emma's eyes opened, "It wasn't me." Regina could feel the small bit of magic beginning to leak through her fingers as Emma gazed into her. "It was you."

Regina smiled, feeling the truth warm her heart before she voiced it, "no Emma," she let out as her eyes followed the movement of her fingers tracing down over Emma's lips, "it was us." Regina leaned in and pressed their lips together, the magic of true love gracefully picking them up from the ground so they were now standing, their mouths still locked as a burst of magic shot out from them and began to swirl around the town replacing every broken home and building. It rose up into the sky sweeping the lingering darkened clouds until the sun forced the Charmings to shield their eyes from the new brightened day. Regina and Emma had no idea what had happened as they broke apart, both bashfully looking away at first before catching the newly renovated town.

They glanced around shocked, both not entirely believing what had happened. "Emma, where's the dagger?" Regina blurted out, knowing Emma would need more proof. Emma took off toward her bug in front of her parent's apartment and magically pulled back a sealed portion beneath the driver's seat and yanked the dagger free. They stared down at the curvy weapon then up at each other.

"It's blank," Emma let out in disbelief. She dropped the dagger almost immediately afraid it was all a trick, "what does that mean?"

Regina smiled as she bent down to pick it up, taking a moment to fully believe it herself, "it means that the Dark One is no more."

Emma still with uncertainty hesitated as she took the dagger from Regina's hand. "Are you sure?"

Regina grasped Emma's free hand and gazed up at the renewed day. It was as if they storm never happened. "Do you really need any more proof?"

Emma glanced down at the dagger, then up at Regina, tears of joy replacing those holding the pain as shook her head. She dropped the dagger and stared into Regina's eyes still looking as if it was all a dream. "You freed me."

Regina's smile matched the sun as her own eyes began to water up, "We freed each other."