A/N: Here's a short chapter… just 'cuz! Happy double chapter day!
Emma gripped the edges of the bathroom sink so hard that her knuckles turned white. She leaned in until her nose was almost pressed against the glass mirror. Being the Dark One and the Savior simultaneously was really taking a toll on Emma, although only physically for the time being.
She wasn't completely sure, but Emma guessed she'd been the Dark One for nine days now. Already she could see she was sporting bags underneath her green eyes, which were, of course, accompanied by dark circles. Her skin was giving way to an unhealthy, almost white, pallor. Plus, she was also rapidly losing weight; Emma had always been on the skinny side, but now, she was dangerously close to becoming underweight. The doctors thought she was anorexic. But Emma ate every bite of her food.
The truth was, there was a completely different kind of battle going on inside of her.
Emma suddenly had a glimmer of hope as she thought about something. She knew the classic story of her mother, the one everyone knew, where the Evil Queen changed herself into an old lady in order to gain the trust of Snow White. That was how Regina had tricked her mom into eating a poison apple. What if Emma could change her appearance, too? Could she escape, then?
Emma stared hard at her reflection. While her powers were certainly limited, she didn't have no magic here; it was worth a shot. But how to do it? Eyes open, or eyes closed? Did it even matter?
Emma was giddy with excitement at this realization. "Brown eyes!" she promptly told the mirror. Nothing happened. "Brown eyes," Emma commanded. She scowled when still nothing happened.
Emma gave up rather quickly. It was a only matter of minutes until she realized nothing was going to happen. She was not one to continue doing something the same way over and over and expect a different result each time. Maybe Emma's magic wasn't strong enough, maybe she just wasn't doing it right; Emma didn't really care. She resolved to ask Regina to teach her how to switch appearances when she next came with Mary Margaret and Henry.
Emma was just happy to have an idea at a way of escape.
There was a heavy knock on the bathroom door. "Almost done in there?" the guard that was to bring her back to her room called.
"Yes!" Emma called back with a grin. The first real grin she'd had in a while.