Author's Note: Wow, I want to thank my reviewer, favorite, and followers of the story. You guys give me a reason to keep writing. Thank you. So, here's the next chapter for your reading enjoyment. Again please leave your comments and reviews.
Chapter One
"My name is Alexis Emma Jones, and I'm your daughter."
Killian starred at the lass in utter shock and confusion. What sort of trickery was this? He didn't have a daughter. He'd bloody well know if he had a child or not. There wasn't one woman he bedded that he wasn't careful with except for Milah. For her he would have gladly given her as many children as she wanted, but that was never to be.
"You're lying!"
"Am I?" Lexi sighed, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay, to be fair you can't answer that question yet." She released her nose and opened her eyes. "But I'm telling you the truth. I am your daughter. I just haven't been born yet."
"And you expect us to take your word on that?"
Lexi tore her eyes from her father to look at her grandparents. "I hope so because you're my Grandfather."
David's hand wavered at the news. He tightened his grip on the gun to steady his hand. "What?"
"I'm your granddaughter and Henry's half sister. Emma Swan is my mother."
Regina's eyes narrowed and she took a step away from Robin. "Enough of this...can't you see what this is? It's the darkness controlling Emma creating this illusion. It knows we're hurting so it wants to make us suffer."
"I don't know, Regina. She looks like a teenage girl to me." Snow watched the girl closely. She had Emma's eyes, but she had Hook's jet black hair. If she was telling the truth about her parents.
"Snow, you've always been too gullible for your own good." And before another word was spoken Regina shot out a blast of magic from her hands.
Lexi realized Regina didn't believe her the moment her eyes narrowed. She couldn't blame her or any them really. It was a lot to believe on her word alone. With her hands still out in front of her, she concentrated on deflecting Regina's magic. She felt the energy build up and within seconds her hands were glowing white with power. She could've easily deflected the magic approaching her, but instead she waved her hands in front of her body and vanished in a cloud of white smoke only to reappear behind everyone.
Regina spun around glaring at the girl. Clearly, she had been wrong about her being an illusion, but who was she really? "How the hell did you do that?"
Lexi smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "I had a good teacher."
"Who?" Regina was so tired of the cat and mouse game this child was playing.
Tears suddenly sprung up into Lexi's yes and slowly slid down her cheeks. "You, Regina... You were my teacher."
"I don't remember ever teaching you."
"That's because it hasn't happened yet. I'm here from the future."
Killian turned around to face the lass. "The future..why did you come here?"
Lexi took a deep breath then released it letting go of her fear. "I'm here to save all of your lives and hopefully Liam as well."
Snow caught the sudden inhale from Hook as she and David turned around to face the teen. That name meant something to him, but it didn't help the rest of them. "Who's Liam, Alexis?"
"He's...he was my twin brother. His name was Liam Killian Jones. He was killed by the Dark One."
"Emma killed her own son?" Killian wouldn't believe it. Emma would never do such a thing."
"Yes, she did. We were trying to save her, but she had been under the darkness's influence for fifteen years. She killed him because I couldn't kill her." More tears filled her green eyes and Lexi tried to blink them away, but a few stray ones slid down her cheeks.
"It's not your fault. Lass."
"But it is! Liam and I are the product of your true love! For some reason the cosmic force controlling all this felt my twin brother should be powerless! So he couldn't protect himself, and he died! You all did! Emma was the savior to break a curse, and my job was to save my family! But I failed!"
"Not yet you haven't."
Lexi spun around hearing his voice. "Henry...you look so young. Wait, how much did you hear?"
"Enough...is it true? Is my Mom the new Dark One?"
Regina sighed as she nodded her head. "Yes, Henry, it's true. She sacrificed herself to save me. I'm sorry."
Henry stepped around the girl and approached his other mother. He saw the girl turn around as he passed her. "It's not your fault, Mom. It just means we have to find Merlin now more than ever." Henry took a step toward the teenager. Her fear filled expression reminded him of the times Emma was frightened when she first arrived in Storybrooke. He could do for her what he did for Emma back then. He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "We will succeed."
Lexi felt her tension fade away from her body with the simple touch. He could always do that. "How do you know?"
"Because I have the heart of the truest believer. Besides with the Apprentice waking up, he should be able to help us get to Camelot."
"What? He shouldn't be waking up yet." Lexi tensed up again and stepped away from Henry.
"But that's a good thing. Henry's right." Snow looked from Alexis to David.
"He'll help you yes, but he won't help me."
"You don't know that, Alexis." David placed his gun back into it's holster and took Snow's hand into his own.
"Yes, I do, Grandpa. Traveling through time is forbidden for a reason. Once he's strong enough he'll send me back, and I won't be able to help anyone."
"Grandpa...so I was right. You're my sister?" Henry knew he had heard her correctly before. It made sense if she was the product of Hook and Emma's love.
"Yes, my name is Alexis but everyone calls me Lexi. I'm your half sister."
"You're from the future? What are you doing here in the past? Don't you know how dangerous this is?"
"Yes, I do, and I said the same thing."
"Who sent you back?" Henry couldn't believe this was happening again. Emma and Hook got lucky that they didn't change too much.
Lexi smiled slightly. She missed her Henry so much. "You did. But with the Apprentice waking up it doesn't bode well for me to change anything. He won't help me."
"Lets talk to him, Lexi. Rumplestilskin helped Mom and Killian when they went to the past."
"Yeah, and he took a potion to erase the memory of meeting them too. But maybe if the Rock Trolls from Arendelle agree to take the memories from all of Storybrooke once I'm gone, then maybe he'll help."
"How do you know about the Rock Trolls? They're not in Henry's storybook."
Lexi glanced over at her grandmother and nodded her head in agreement. "I read about the in the book Henry wrote. And he told me about them as did Belle."
"So lets go talk to the Apprentice and save Emma." Killian's mind was still reeling with the knowledge that he had or will have not one but two children with Emma. And because of the Crocodile's bloody curse she will kill everyone she loves including their son. If this young lass was to be believed. She hadn't shown any proof to back up her claims. And the one thing he knew to be true above all else was that people lie no matter their age.
He turned around and walked to the last place he saw Emma. Still laying on the asphalt was the Dark One's dagger. He slowly knelt down and picked it up. The handle felt ice cold in his hand. Emma Swan clearly etched into the blade as if it had been there for centuries. How could she do it? How could she tell him she loved him then leave him? He rose to his feet and rejoined the group.
Lexi followed her father's movement. She could see how much this was killing him. She only hoped she could save them all. "You believe me?"
Regina smirked and shook her head."About you being Emma Swan and the one handed pirate's love child...no. But the longer we stand here the farther away Emma gets." She gave a stray glance at Hook and frowned. She felt awful about Emma. She might have been angry with her at on time, but Regina never wanted to see her sacrifice herself as she had.
"Fine, but I'm staying here. The longer I go unnoticed by the Apprentice the better."
Snow shook her head before stepping up to Lexi and wrapping her arm around the girl's shoulders. "Regina may not believe you, but I do. There's something about your story that rings true. And there's the light magic as well. No offense Regina, but besides Emma no one else seems to have that kind of magic running through their veins."
"None taken, but I do have light magic in me as well. I've just used the dark magic longer."
"But you're changing, Regina. We all see it." David stepped up beside Snow and stroked his hand against Lexi's soft cheek. "If Snow believes you the so do I. I've learned over the years not to doubt my wife."
God, this isn't going to be easy she thought. She couldn't seem to be able to shut off the waterworks as even more tears slid down her cheeks. Lexi suddenly realized it was going to be so hard leaving everyone behind when the time came. All her life all she had was Liam and Henry, but what she craved was the love of her grandparents and her father. Now it seemed she had two out of the three. Not a bad start she figured.
She nodded her head and the small group made their way toward Mr. Gold's antique shop. Lexi took a shuddering breath as Robin opened the door. She stepped inside after receiving a reassuring squeeze from her grandmother. The shop was fuller than she remembered. Once Emma became the Dark One, the citizens of Storybrooke took whatever they could to try to protect themselves. Belle never tried to stop them and within six months both she and her Rumple were dead.
Determination flowed through her veins, and Lexi knew what she had to do first. The Apprentice would undoubtedly try to stop her, but she had to try. Storybrooke needed Rumplestilskin's magic whether they wanted to admit it or not. The former Dark One's heart was once again pure according to the book Henry wrote. That meant he would need to choose his path. But Emma, or rather the darkness, never gave him a chance since she/it viewed him as a threat.
Belle glanced up from Rumple's side as the group entered the back room of the shop. "Did you find it? Where's Emma?"
Regina dropped her head feeling guilty once again, but smiled slightly feeling Robin's arms wrap around her. "Emma's gone, Belle. She's the new Dark One. How is he?"
Belle was shocked at the news. Emma the Dark One...it was hard to imagine after everything she had done for Storybrooke and her people. "There's no change. He's still under the preservation spell, so I really don't know."
"And unfortunately he's beyond our help."
"What are you saying?" Belle's tear filled eyes snapped toward the Apprentice now standing beside his makeshift bed.
"I'm saying once the preservation spell is lifted Rumplestilskin will die." The Apprentice glanced around the room stopping on the raven haired girl wrapped in Snow White's arms. He didn't remember seeing her before he passed out. "Who is she?"
"It's a long story. Are you sure you can't help him?" Snow felt Lexi tense up against her. She rubbed her hand against her granddaughter's arm. She all ready lost her daughter again...she wasn't about to lose her granddaughter as well.
The Apprentice kept his eyes trained on the girl as he nodded his head. "Yes, I am sure. There is no hope for him. You don't belong here do you child?"
Lexi pressed herself closer to her grandmother's side. She was determined to help Rumplestilskin, but the Apprentice scared her. He must have sensed her magic when she defended herself earlier. That was the only explanation as to why he woke up so much sooner than he was supposed to. She finally dropped her eyes to Belle and Rumple unable to look at the Apprentice's intense gaze.
"Your silence is answer enough, child. Be thankful my powers are not strong enough to return you to your time. But once they are I will send you back. We must all protect the balance, and you being here could destroy it. What is your name, child?"
"Lexi...Alexis Emma Jones, and I know being here could destroy the balance. But not coming would have cost you all your lives." Lexi glanced up and took a calming breath. She pulled out of her grandmother's embrace, straightened her shoulders, and returned the Apprentice's intense stare. "And I can't let that happen. Not if I can help save everyone...starting with Rumplestilskin."
"Your intentions are honorable, but I'm afraid he's beyond saving."
"No, he's not, Apprentice. You may not be strong enough to save him, but I can."
"You are powerful yes, Lexi, but all magic comes with a price. Trying to save his life could cost you yours."
"Then so be it. As you say I'm not supposed to be here, and if saving his life saves everyone I love then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to pay. I am my mother's daughter after all. And saving people is in our blood."
Killian quickly stepped forward and grabbed Lexi's arm. "I can't let you do it, Love. I can't lose you too. The Apprentice might be right about the Crocodile." He had learned over the last couple of years if the Charmings believed something it usually was true. And Snow White believed Lexi's story. She was a good judge of character which made his decision all the more simple. Alexis was his daughter from the future.
"But he's not...Dad. You need Rumplestilskin's magic to help Mom. He assumes Rumple is once again powerless, but he's not. And the darkness inside Mom knows this. She'll...it'll be back to snuff out his life and anyone standing in the way. You have to let me try. Besides Merlin will be it's next target after Rumple."
"How do you know this, Lass? You haven't been born yet remember."
"I know because of Henry. His book is a memory inside my head. The darkness fears the light. The combined light magic in the Apprentice, Rumple, and Merlin can destroy it once and for all. Regina, you need to focus on your own light magic. You can help them with it. Let go of the darkness and let your heart be healed."
"It can't be healed. Once it goes dark there's no going back."
"That's not true, Regina. I know you can do it. Here, I can't give you the actual book since it would now be erased from this moment on, but I can give you my memory in the form of a book." Lexi closed her eyes and held out her hand. If the Apprentice was right that saving Rumple would kill her, then at least with her memory of Henry's book they'd have a fighting chance. She concentrated on recreating the book from her memory. Seconds passed before she felt a heavy weight fill her hand.
"You did it." Henry smiled at his half sister.
Lexi opened her eyes and smiled. "Now you have leverage to fight with. I know you don't approve Apprentice, but I don't bloody care. I will fight for my family. Take it Henry and keep it somewhere safe," Lexi said keeping her eyes focused on the Apprentice.
"What do we do now?" Henry took the story book and held it tightly against his chest.
"Nothing...it's my turn to do what I was sent here to do. You have to let me go, Dad. I'll be all right." Lexi gently pulled away from her father's grip and stepped up to Rumple's still form. She stretched out her hands, closed her eyes, and concentrated on her task.
She knew she would find the man buried deep in the beast's subconscious mind. The search was taxing, and as she weakened she understood what the Apprentice meant. Rumple never wanted to be the coward he once was so he buried himself as far down as he could. Once she found him she'd have to convince him to return to the land of the living. Just as she was about to collapse from exhaustion she found him in the dark reaches of his mind.
"Rumple, I'm so glad I found you. You need to wake up."
"No, I don't, Ms. Jones. I'm no longer needed now that my magic is gone. I don't desire to be the man I once was."
"So, you could hear us talking. If that's true then you know what I said is true too. You aren't powerless, Rumple. You can still weld magic, but what type is up to you. Think about this fresh start you now have with Belle." Lexi's body standing inside Rumplestilskin's mind suddenly swayed on her feet about to collapse.
Rumple jumped to his feet catching the young woman before she fell. "You need to stop what you're doing. Just let me go."
Lexi's eyes drifted shut and her head slumped onto Rumple's shoulder. "I can't. I'm too far into your mind. If you give up then I'll die with you."
"No, I don't want anyone sacrificing themselves for me."
"Then get us out of here, Rumple. I've given you all I have. It's up to you now."
"All right, hold on, child. I'll get us out of here." Without a second thought Rumple lifted the teenager into his arms.
"Lexi...Alexis!" Killian caught the girl in his arms as she collapsed into unconsciousness.