Chapter Ten - Malice
"Of course she took the baby." Snow cuddled her own child closer, "She's her mother."
"She's also a murderer." Charming reminded her.
"That's not all she is." said Rumple, holding up an all too familiar bracelet, now covered in blood.
Snow gasped, "Oh my gosh! Not all this blood is Whale's."
"It seems that Zelena has escaped. Again."
"Of course," said Belle, "She cut off her own arm again to get out of the bracelet."
"I did warn Whale to keep her strapped down." said Rumple crossing his arms.
Regina glowered, "Yes well, I'm sure the good doctor's last thoughts were of you and your warning; 'Oh if I'd only listened to Rumple! gurgle gurgle gurgle...as he drowned in his own blood."
"Regina, please!" Snow cried, placing her hand over her mouth, presumably to hold back the forthcoming vomit.
"What's the matter dear? Having a hard time seeing your boyfriend filleted?" Regina asked.
Snow dropped her hand long enough to retort, "Whale was not my boyfriend! We were cursed!"
Belle looked from Snow to Regina, "What is it with you forcing women you hate to date other men?" she demanded, thinking Snow must've had her heart her taken out by Regina at some point too if she'd gone on a date with Doctor Whale of all people.
"I had nothing to do with her and Whale, thank you very much." Regina said, trying her best to look self-righteous, while Snow frowned, but finally won her inner struggle not to bring up Catherine and how Regina tried to force David into her arms, which was why Snow got tangled up with Whale in the first place. "Regina... we need to have a talk later." she said instead but Regina was having none of it, "Oh please." she said to Snow, "It's not like your hands are clean as ...snow." Regina remembered what Snow had told her about Malificient's daughter; not to mention her own mother's (Cora's) death. Emma cut off Snow's retort that Regina had killed her father (Leopold), "Hey none of us have clean hands in this room." she said, unintentionally waving the dark dagger in everyone's faces.
Belle coughed.
Emma looked at her, "Oh come on Belle, there has to be something..."
"She never even returned a library book late." said Rumple giving Regina a bold dark look.
Belle smiled a bit sheepishly, "oh, I might've returned a few books late." she admitted, "But I was a princess at the time and they tend to overlook rules like that for princesses." she looked to Snow who nodded, while all the non princesses in the room rolled their eyes.
Snow patted Emma's arm, "You're a princess too, Emma." she reminded her daughter.
"Yes yes and I was a queen." Regina reminded them, "So listen to your sovereign and focus on the real problem at hand. We have to find Zelena!" she turned to Rumple, "Can you still do magic or has being ordinary again wiped out all those centuries of study?"
Rumple gulped and looked at Belle, then back to Regina, "I um, seem to have lost some of my magical oomph of late."
Belle went to him and held his hand, "You tried?" she asked, he wasn't sure if her tone was sad that he still wanted magic at some level or sad that he'd lost his power. "Yes." he admitted, "a few small spells just to see if I had any magic left in me now that I'm... well, me again. All failed."
Belle leaned into his arm and smiled up at him reassuringly, "I love you no matter what." she said, clasping his arm.
Regina rolled her eyes again, "Oh how very touching. Too bad that means we're short one magic user going up against my sister who happens to be the most powerful witch in all the realms."
Emma, Snow, Charming, Hook, Grumpy and Regina looked down, each trying to come up with a plan when Merlin offered, "Have you tried using white magic, my child?" he asked, looking at Rumplestiltskin.
Rumple looked uncomfortable saying, "I'm afraid I haven't had a lot of experience with 'white' magic. Rather avoided it, actually."
"It's very simple my child." Merlin's voice was rich and soothing despite the rattle of great age that sometimes broke through the rich tones, "You simply replace the hatred and the fear that fueled the dark magic with love and peace..."
"Oh is that all." Regina grumbled. Rumple looked down at his hands, disbelieving that these same hands could work light magic instead of dark.
Snow nudged Regina and whispered, "Help him, Regina. You've been able to do light magic from time to time. Give him some pointers..." Rumple and Regina both grumbled at this idea. "Could you two stop feuding long enough to save the town from Zelena please?!" Emma asked, exasperated.
Rumple shoved his hand in his pockets, he turned to Regina, "I guess I could use a few tips. Given the severity of the situation..."
"What was that?" Regina asked, cupping a hand to her ear.
Rumple flushed, "Please." he said, feeling like the word would choke him.
"Oh the delicious irony!" she exclaimed, grinning widely, "The great Rrrruuuumplestiltskin needing magic lessons from me."
"Regina Please!" Snow exclaimed, "Just do it! Zelena already has a head start on us, do you really want to risk letting her wander free all night?"
"Hey," interjected Grumpy, "she's got a newborn now right? Maybe she'll just leave town."
"That's a good point." said Belle, "She may not be bent on evil deeds now that she has her child to think of."
"She just filleted Whale!" Regina reminded them.
"That was could've just been so that she could escape." said Charming, "And after all Whale did have a history of making ...questionable comments towards women."
"So what, now we're saying it was justifiable homicide because Whale might've called her Honey?" Regina threw up her hands in disgust.
"ENOUGH!" said Emma brandishing the dagger, "YOU," she turned to Regina and Merlin, "Help Gold get his magic mojo back. " she turned to Grumpy and Henry, "YOU go and round up the dwarves, the merry men and whoever else you can find to help us search for Regina." she turned to her parents, "And you two need to start thinking about where Zelena might go first. We have to find her. The rest of own issues can wait." Regina must've agreed because she headed for the door, she didn't look happy to be assigned to Rumple's team, but she was willing to go nonetheless.
"Regina, wait." quickly before she could change her mind again Emma handed over the dagger, closing her eyes tightly as it left her hand, trying her best to shut out the shadow's shrill scream not to do it. "Maybe you better take this back. In case I can't control my dark urges." Regina flinched, remembering Robin's death and forcing down a deep urge for revenge. "OK, Swan." was all she said as she continued out the door."Are you coming?" she called over her shoulder to Rumple, not bothering to wait and see if he was following her. Rumple kissed Belle and warned her to be careful before he left with Merlin to follow Regina. Grumpy and Henry left too; promising to gather the troops.
Emma's bloodshot gaze drilled into her mother, who jiggled baby Neal absently as she thought. "Zelena has a newborn, but she can't leave the town because of the barrier and she can't open a portal without magic beans or a magic door or..."
"Jefferson's hat?" offered Charming.
"Let's just assume that the witch can't get her hands on any such item immediately." said Hook, "Where would she go?"
"Well she would probably be tired after giving birth..."
Charming shook his head at Snow, "I really don't think a witch who can cut off her own hand and reattach it has to worry too much about recovering from childbirth."
"You're right; she almost certainly just used magic to heal herself afterwards." Snow agreed with her husband, "You probably can't even tell she was ever pregnant now. Gosh I hate her."
"Snow!"
"Sorry."
Hook moved slightly away from the Charmings and said, "If she wants to flee and can't, than I would suggest that Zelena might go looking for a way out of town and since the only way out of Storybrook is through magic..."
"Gold's shop/Rumple's shop" Emma and Belle said in unison.
00O00
Humming happily Zelena suspended the unicorn mobile over her daughter's bassinet and smiled down at the enfant who gurgled contentedly back at her mother.
"Hmmm" Zelena murmured, "I guess now that you're here I should give you a name." she said, idly ticking her daughter's chin. "Aravis?" she ventured.
The baby yawned.
"Buttercup?"
"Callisto?"
"Drizella?"
The baby closed her eyes.
"Esmeralda?"
"Fiona?"
"Giselle?"
The baby opened one bleary eye.
"Hera?"
"Iphigenia?"
"Jasmine?"
The baby turned her head.
"Kiara?"
"Lady?"
"Merid...?"
The bell over the pawn shop door jangled; Zelena looked up to see her associates Lily and Isaac coming back from their fact-finding mission.
"How nice of you to come back." Zelena said acidly.
"Didn't sound like we had a choice," commented Isaac as he plunked his bag on the counter.
"Of course you did," said Zelena, "You had the choice of living or dying and I see you choose living... congratulations."
Lily coughed, and nodded towards the door which opened to admit Maleficent.
"Oh and you brought your mother, how sweet."
Maleficent leaned her staff against the doorframe and spoke to Zelena, "I have no quarrel with you Zelena... however; I would like you to please leave my daughter alone."
"Afraid I con't do that until I'm satisfied that my daughter and I are safe. I'm sure you know how I feel..."
Maleficent did at that. "How can I help you?" she asked.
Zelena grinned and motioned for Isaac, Lily and Maleficent to lean in closer, "I have a plan." she said still grinning from ear to ear, "And it's very wicked..."
00O00
Rumple stood in the center of the room his face a mask of intense concentration as he strained to force some magic out of his fingers. "O thank God." he muttered weakly as the candle finally flickered into flame.
"Very good my child!" Merlin praised him, "You're nearly there..."
"Pfft" Regina snorted, "He nearly gave himself a coronary lighting a candle I hardly think he's a match for my sister."
"Don't be so negative child." Merlin chided her, (Regina wondering if the old fool simply really couldn't remember any of their names or if he just couldn't be bothered to learn them in the first place), "He needn't be trained in spells or sorcery, he knows all these things already." Merlin continue, "It only remains that he learn to channel his power through the lens of love and kindness to oppose the green witch's darkness and thanks to my apprentice's work, his heart has been cleansed of all darkness meaning the light has opportunity here to take him over completely in a way no other man could hope to achieve no matter how honorable a life he has led."
"Great. He carries a dark curse for centuries and ends up pure in heart; I burn down one or two little villages and mine is a useless lump of coal."
"Stop yer grousing Regina" Rumple said, "I need to focus on good thoughts and your presence is quite frankly less helpful than Emma may have expected." The candle sputtered a bit and went out. Rumple glared at Regina. Maybe the new Dark One was trying to sabotage their plans after all. No sane person would pick Regina to teach him light magic. Not with their history.
In a bizarre effort at reconciliation Merlin offered to tell them about the time his student turned him into a tree. No one found this helpful.
Silently Belle sidled up to her husband and squeezed his hand. Quite suddenly the candle flared to life again. As did a corner of Regina's coat. Rumple suppressed a smile as Regina ripped off her jacket and stomped on it to kill the flames.
"This will never do child." Merlin chided Rumple, "You must not waiver from the light lest you give darkness purchase in your soul once more. Let your conscience guide you." Rumple looked down at Belle and sighed ruefully, "It's difficult to hear your conscience when you've spent centuries trying to suppress it." Belle shook his arm gently, "Don't despair Rumple." she said, "I know your conscience is still in there. I saw it in action several times here in Storybrook and even a couple times in The Enchanted Forest; or have you forgotten sparing Robin Hood's life so long ago?"
"I havna forgotten Belle, but how can I break the bad habits of a lifetime in one afternoon? Belle... I'm afraid that if I face Zelena that I'll turn coward and run again or worse..."
"Worse?" she prompted, "Zelena murdered my son. I hate her so much that I'm afraid that if I don't run, I'll still manage to ruin everything with my hatred of Zelena.
In the end it was The Apprentice who came up with the winning idea which he whispered as a suggestion into Merlin's ear. The ancient wizard smiled and raised his wand...
00O00
Night fell as Snow, Emma, Charming and Regina (with dagger in hand), walked down Main Street towards Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop a puff of green smoke heralded Zelena's arrival. "You needn't bother with your pathetic search any longer." she said, rolling up one stylish green sleeve to show off her now bare wrist, "I have no need to hide..." she smiled, "...but maybe you should." Grinning she cast a wave of green fire down Main Street; lighting every lamp with a sickly green glow in the fading light of dusk.
Regina wasn't impressed, "Candle magic? What are you five?"
"Atmosphere dear sister." chided Zelena, "How can I enjoy killing you all if I can't see your faces properly?"
"Zelena where is the baby?" Snow asked, motherly concern in her voice for the missing babe. "Don't fuss I left her with Maleficent. I trust your conscience won't allow you to steal another baby from her." Snow's face flushed red.
"Give it up Zelena." said Regina, nonchalantly tapping the dark dagger on her hip, "Evil never wins."
"Ah, but wicked DOES!" Zelena replied, raising her arm to signal her compatriots Isaac and Lily to come forward. Isaac came out of the shadows holding Hook at gunpoint. "Killian..." Emma whispered. Then Lily emerged shoving Henry in front of her. "Henry no!" Emma cried, rushing towards her son. Lily tightened her grip on Henry's collar as she raised the gun she'd been holding to his back into full view by aiming it at his head. Regina's grip tightened on the dagger; Emma exploded into hot fury, "GIVE ME MY SON!" she demanded. Lily cocked the gun. Regina gripped the dagger tight. She couldn't risk that gun going off if Emma attacked.
Emma raised her hands; red fireballs began to form in each upturned palm. "Emma no!" said Regina, tugging Emma back with the dagger, "We can't risk it."
"Risk what? Even if Lily's trigger finger IS faster than my magic I can still heal Henry." she raised her hands again. Regina lowered them using the dagger. "You can't heal him if he's dead." she reminded Emma.
"You know she's right." a voice said over her shoulder, "Dead is dead." she turned to see the shadow of Rumplestiltskin had returned in all its scaly glory. "Primary rule of magic dearie... dead is dead and all that, but we're faster than any bullet aren't we dearie?" The shade looked at Lily, "Kill her." it ordered Emma, "Kill them ALL. The boy will be fine. We're the Dark One. We don't negotiate with terrorists."
"I'm not killing anyone!" Emma spat into the empty space where the shadow stood.
"Emma" Snow's voice trembled as she spoke, "Who are you talking too?" Regina narrowed her eyes following Emma's gaze into nothingness, "I think Gold is talking to her again." she said. "What?" said the Charmings' in adorable unison. "She's been seeing some sort of ...shadow figure representing the darkness inside of her, usually in the form of Rumplestiltskin." Regina clarified.
Shadow Rumple leaned in to whisper in Emma's ear, "Well I am the only dark host you knew."
"Whatever he's saying to you Emma..." Regina cautioned, "Don't listen!" Shadow Rumple placed his hand over his heart, feigning hurt feelings. Growing tired of this dialogue that didn't include her Zelena waved her arms, "Um, heelllooo, wicked witch of the west here. I'm threatening to kill all of your loved ones unless you let me and my child escape back to Oz." ...'ahem' Isaac coughed, "Oh yeah and them too," she indicated her associates. "They're coming with me."
"Actually" said Lily, "I think Isaac and I would prefer just leaving town. "And money." interjected Isaac, "Lots of money. Starting over is expensive." Lily nodded, adding, "Mom will come with us and we can start over somewhere far away from magic and dark ones and baby napping 'heroes'.
"No." said Regina firmly, ignoring Lily and Isaac's pointless presence, "You're not taking Robin's child to Oz with you."
"Why not?" Zelena asked, "Her father is dead after all..." she winked at Emma, "Thanks for that, 'Dark One'. I really appreciate your help." she smiled. "You're NOT getting the baby!" Regina growled, refusing to be baited about Robin, "You're what we in this realm call, 'an unfit parent'."
"I'm unfit?" shouted Zelena, "What about YOU sister dear? Did you happen to mention to the adoption agency that you were The Evil Queen when you picked up Henry?" Regina shrugged, "I'd changed. You haven't."
"Had you?" Zelena asked, "From what I've heard it sure sounds like you haven't changed yet."
"Taking Belle's heart was a mistake!" Regina wailed, "I was unhappy and I took it out on her. But she's fine. And I really wish she'd stop squawking about it. SHE got her husband back and that's more than I'll ever have now!"
"Trust me sister you're better off without that man... The hours I had to spend listening to his boring bandit stories." Zelena groaned, "Not to mention the reality TV he made me watch. I mean if a show is called Survivor, I expect someone to die at some point and yet they just keep..."
"How dare you speak of Robin Hood that way! He loved me! Not you. Me! He only left with you because he thought you were Marion and you let him believe you were sick and his honor demanded..."
"Oh gosh not 'the honor' talk again. I thought I was through with that when your friend there ran him through."
"He was sick inside to think he'd been sleeping with you all that time. SICK."
"He seemed pretty happy with his bargain at the time." she indicated her recently occupied stomach.
"Happy? You practically raped him."
Zelena snorted, "Oh he was more than willing and what about this Sheriff Graham Mary Margaret told me about back when I was her..." she giggled, "'midwife'... I'm told he died of a 'heart attack'?" she laughed as the color drained out of Regina's face. "I happen to know for a fact, dear sister that your huntsman could never have died from what this world calls a heart 'attack' because YOU kept the dear huntsman's heart in a case on your night table. Very convenient that," she remarked, "especially on those loooong cold winter evenings back in The Enchanted Forest..."
"You watched us? How? Why? How dare you!"
"The Wizard had a lovely toy back in Oz that let me check in on you whenever I liked. What a bad girl you were, Regina." Emma stared at Regina, "Did you really murder graham?" she asked. Regina turned her face away and nodded. Emma's jaw tightened. "This has all been a lark and all." Zelena said, gleefully, "But as much fun as it is to expose my sister as a fraud... I really must insist we return to the matter at hand."
"What exactly do you want, Zelena?" asked Charming.
"All I wanted was my child. A family of my own! And you all, 'the great heroes' just couldn't allow me that chance. Why couldn't you just leave me in OZ!"
"Because your 'family' wasn't real, Zelena." said Belle stepping from the shadows with her Rumple at her side. "First you stole Marion's life and her husband and then when that went sour, you took mine!"
"Well believe me I got no joy out of him." Zelena said glaring at Rumple, "You were a lot more fun back in The Enchanted Forest."
Rumple smiled, "Glad to see you've finally lost that fatal attraction you had for me." he turned to Belle, "You know I was actually going to have her cast the dark curse to bring us all to this world... until I realized that she was in love with me. If you recall the price for that particular curse was the heart of the thing you love most and since to Zelena that was now..." he chuckled, "Me. I had to go back to my original plan and have Regina cast it." Regina glared at him. "See." he said to Belle, "No love there."
"If you recall I could've taken you strait to your son if you'd only confided in me." Zelena reminded him of the silver slippers she'd gotten from The Wizard of Oz.
"I was the greatest magician in all the realms, dearie. Not a mind reader."
"Enough of this!" Zelena shouted. "Either bring me the sack of magic beans and enough gold to satisfy my minions or I will kill a hostage."
"Now you want the whole sack of beans? What happened to your one way trip to your dear old home in Oz?"
"Insurance." Zelena replied looking directly at Regina, "In case you try to follow me."
"I'm not following you anywhere because you're not leaving."
"Regina..." Snow pleaded, "Please, just let her keep her baby. It's not right to separate a mother from her child." she looked up at Charming, "Trust us we know."
"She's not taking Robin Hood's child!" said Regina through clenched teeth.
"She's her child too Regina."
"No."
"Fine." Zelena said, "Than pick one." she waved at Isaac and Lily to bring the hostages closer, "Pick one to die!" Hook's gaze locked directly into Emma's, "Pick me." he mouthed the words clearly, but Emma pretended she hadn't seen. "Take me instead." Emma said, "My life... my power for them. As The Dark One no one will be able to touch you and I'll even tell you where Gold hid the magic beans. You can leave Zelena. Go anywhere you wish and never come back."
"Well that's an interesting offer indeed, tired of life as The Dark One already have you, 'savior'. Though to be honest I've had my eye on The Dark One's power for ages. I just couldn't quite bring myself to kill Rumple and strangely enough I don't seem to have the same problem with you." she grinned, "You have a deal savior."
"No!" shouted Regina, "You're not taking Emma's power either." She held up the Dark Dagger, "Because to do it you'll need this and there is no way in hell I'm going to give it to YOU!"
"No way, sister?"Zelena pulled a sharp knife out of thin air and turned to Lily, "Bring me the boy!" Lily shoved Henry at Zelena and went to stand with Isaac who still held Hook at gunpoint. Zelena wrapped her arm around Henry and place the tip of her blade against his throat. "Don't test me Regina." she warned, digging her blade a little deeper into Henry's neck, "I recently gave birth if you'll recall and I might just be feeling a little wobbly... oops." Henry cried out as a tiny drop of blood flowed down Zelena's blade. "...I do hope I don't slip."
"Zelena..." Henry's voice was pleading.
"Aunt Zelena to you mister." she replied, keeping her blade tight against her nephew's throat. She looked at Regina and smile, "Oh dear me, I feel my hand starting to shake..."
Regina's anger was great and her glare fierce, "Well I'm truly sorry you're feeling poorly sister dear. You know it's such a shame that you SHANKED the only doctor in Storybrook this afternoon!"
"Is this going to take all night?" Zelena inquired. "Just give me what I want and I spare your son's life. Why on Earth are you hesitating? The Dark One volunteered to die and I'm happy to oblige. Just give me the knife, the gold and my beans and I'll be more than happy to leave town."
Rumple limped forward to stand beside Emma, "I don't think so." he said.
Zelena nearly snorted with laughter, "You have got to be kidding me. What exactly are you going to do to stop me... spinner."
"I may be human again, Zelena. But I still have magic in my blood and without the darkness polluting it with every beat of my heart..." he paused and stared into space, as if he was listening to something they couldn't hear, "I might even be a match for you."
"Well this is quite a change." said Zelena, "The coward has finally grown a spine I see. Too bad courage is no match for magic."
Rumple ignored Zelena and continued to listen to the voice in his head. "Don't listen to her papa!" the shadow of Baelfire said to his father. "You CAN change if you want to. Remember how much you loved me and let go of your hatred. It's the only way papa."
"Oh good grief what are YOU doing here?" Shadow Rumplestiltskin asked.
"I'm here to remind my pap of who he really is... a hero. Merlin drew me out of his mind and made it so we could speak to one another again."
"A hero... him?" the shadow laughed.
Emma's mouth stood agape, "Wait I see him too, I see Neal. I... how is this possible?"
The Charmings looked very concerned, "Emma," her father said, "Who are you talking too?"
"It's Neal. I see him standing beside Gold." she replied, feeling an oddly undark urge to cry. Rumple glanced briefly at the shadow of his former self and then back to his son, "So you two can see each other?" he asked Baelfire's shadow. "Merlin didn't mention that."
"Where do you think the Darkness got the idea?" Shadow Bae crossed his arms, "Merlin was giving out visible consciences long before The Dark One came alone and corrupted the idea."
"Pity you can only use the dead as your template." Shadow Rumple sniffed.
"He's your son!" said Emma turning to admonish her shadow.
"He's not my son, dearie. I'm the Dark One. The Dark One has no son. And if he did he certainly wouldn't have let him DIE."
Merlin waved his hand and the dark shadow fell silent and grasped at its throat, "Enough." Merlin said, "I have heard enough from the Darkness to last a hundred lifetimes. You have consumed souls for centuries and while I... am partly to blame for that I will no longer stand by and allow you torment this innocent young woman." he indicated Emma, he turned to Rumple. "Remember my child; thy body remembers thy magic even if they dark power has been drained. Concentrate on love my child. Let they love for thy family and thy friends fuel thy magic anew!" Rumple looked at Belle and he looked at Bae; confidently he addressed Zelena... "Take my advice Zelena; Villains never win." Rumplestiltskin raised his arms and concentrated on Belle and Bae; as he did love flooded his heart and a blinding white light cascaded down the street dissolving Zelena's knife and her henchmen's guns at the speed of light and knocking Zelena to her knees. Finding himself free, Henry ran to his moms and Hook grinned crookedly at Isaac, "Better luck next time mate." he said, joining his friends on the other side.
Rumplestiltskin turned to Emma who felt a sudden wave of terror course through her body. She wanted desperately to run, but the light held her in an invisible grip. "Don't be afraid, Emma." Rumple said, "The Darkness knows it's time has come and it wants you to carry it away from the light." Emma started to cry. "Shhhh" Rumple soothed her. He placed his hands on her head and as Merlin had taught he pulled the plug out.
The Darkness poured out of Emma in ribbons, twisting and writhing as it tried to escape the light. Emma collapsed with a gasp as the last of The Darkness left her body. Rumple, Merlin and his Apprentice surrounded the writhing darkness and Rumple removed a familiar box from his coat and placed it on the pavement beneath the darkness. "Regina," he said, "Be a dear and hand over the dagger." Numbly Regina obeyed; as she passed the dagger to Rumple she gasped, "The name... where it should say Emma Swan... it's blank!"
"Aye, The Darkness has lost its tether" said Rumple, deftly opening the box with a wave of the dagger. Soft music filled the air as the sorcerer's hat unfurled itself under the darkness. Joining hands Rumple Merlin and The Apprentice forced the darkness into the hat which dulled from a deep blue covered with stars into a gloomy black as the stars in the hat went out one by one. Merlin waved his hand and the now pitch black hat folded itself back down into the box which closed with a snap. The light retreated back into Rumple who staggered a bit under the strange and unfamiliar weight of a light heart.
"Is it gone for good?" Snow asked, as she pulled her weeping daughter close.
"Perhaps." said Merlin, tucking the box into his own voluminous robes. "I shall return it to whence it came."
"I don't suppose you'd care to tell us where that is?" Belle asked.
"No my child, but be assured that The Darkness will never be allowed to trouble you or those you love again."
"I'll miss you." Belle said, knowing without being told that Merlin was going to leave. "And I you." he replied, hugging her tightly, if briefly.
"Wait." Rumple said, "Don't waste your fairy dust. I'll give you a bean. Several if you'd like." he rooted around in his pockets trying to find the little sack.
"Thank you my child, but my apprentice and I prefer to fly." Merlin smiled his ancient smile and tossed a handful of glittering dust into the air. He and his apprentice flew up waving a cheery goodbye to them as they disappeared into the starry night. Our assembled heroes waved them off. Forgetting momentarily at least that their problems weren't all solved just yet.
"I thought he'd never leave." Zelena said, knocking the entire crowd down with a wave of her arm. Thanks to his seasoned sea-legs Hook recovered first and dived at Zelena trying to knock her down. Laughing at the pirate's absurd attempt to take down a witch, Zelena stretched out her hand like a claw and Hook rose from the ground arms flailing wildly as Zelena slowly choked the life out of him.
Henry clutched at Rumple's arm, "You have to save him grandpa!"
"SERIOUSLY?!" Suddenly Rumple wondered if being good was really worth it.
"Rumple..." Belle chided. "You have too, papa." Baelfire's shadow, which Merlin has evidently forgotten about, reminded him. Rumple turned to Belle, "This could get a bit awkward back home if I can't work out a way to put my son's memory back where it belongs."
"We'll deal with it, Rumple." she said, "That's what families do. Now stop stalling and save Killian. He's turning blue for heaven's sake."
"Fine." said Rumple, casually knocking Zelena over again with a burst of light magic.
Hook dropped to the ground coughing at the sudden rush of oxygen into his nearly empty lungs.
"What should we do with her?" Belle asked, her voice laced with compassion as she looked at Zelena.
"I have a few suggestions." Regina growled.
"We'll send her away." Rumple said, "Somewhere where she can change if she wants too, somewhere where there is no magic." He turned to Lily, "Go and fetch your mother and Zelena's daughter and if you so choose you can accompany them to the land without magic."
"Wait... NO!" said Regina, "I told you I won't allow her to raise Robin's child. It isn't right. She doesn't deserve a second chance."
Rumple looked at his son, "No she doesn't." Rumple sighed, "But Regina, how many second chances have YOU been given that you didn't deserve?"
Regina argued for hours, but in the end the majority sided with Rumple and Zelena with her child and Isaac who opted to accompany them, Lily choosing to stay in Storybrook with her mother, walked through the portal Rumple opened with one of his magic beans into a land without magic.