Chapter Four: Saying Goodbye
Emma starred at the girl. There was no denying she was Killian's daughter. She was a spitting image of him except for her eyes. She had the greenest eyes she'd ever seen.
"You're shocked at the news." Lexi smiled understanding where her mother was coming from. When Henry told her who her mother was she denied it. How could her other be the Dark One? But it was true as was this moment.
"Yeah, I am. Especially since I don't remember any of it."
"That's because it hasn't happened yet."
"What...you're from..."
"I am. And yes, I know it's dangerous. But it was a risk I was willing to take if it saved all of you."
"And you've done that, Lass."
"No, I haven't...not yet." Lexi squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden pain in her stomach. It felt like someone was pulling her down by her belly button. After only a few seconds the pain doubled ripping a scream from her throat.
"What's wrong, Lexi? What's happening?" Killian felt his daughter's body tense up in his arms. She was in clear pain, but he was helpless to help.
"She doesn't belong here. And it is time she returned to her own time."
Emma spun around glaring at the Apprentice. "You did this! Make it stop! Can't you see you're hurting her?"
Lexi took a hitched breath and grabbed Emma...no, her mother's arm. When she turned around Lexi nodded her head while tears streamed down her face. "It's...all right...Mom. He's...right. I...don't...belong...here."
"But you said it yourself, Alexis. You haven't saved us yet."
"I've...started...the...path. Now...you...all...must...finish...it...without...me." Lexi grabbed a hold of her father's hand. This was how she wanted to remember both of her parents. The pain tripled and another scream was ripped from her.
Regina jumped as each scream echoed through the Town Hall. There was nothing she could do except watch. The Apprentice started this and only he could stop it. It was much like her curse. Once it started there was no going back. She squeezed Robin's hand and placed her other hand on Snow's shoulder. This had to be tearing her apart.
"No! We...I still need you." Emma knelt down, slammed her eyes shut, and concentrated. The girl...no, her daughter went through a living hell to get there and save them. She wasn't about to let her get ripped away back to a place where she'd be all alone. She'd spent too many years living that nightmare. She wasn't about to allow her daughter to continue the cycle.
Emma squeezed Alexis's hand and held her other hand over the teen. She had to reverse what the Apprentice started. Her daughter wasn't going any where. She tapped into all the light magic she contained but quickly realized it wasn't enough. She needed something more. Even though the Dark One now slept inside her, Emma sensed her dark magic was still accessible.
She opened herself up to the dark magic allowing it to flow through her. It touched every part of her mixing with her own magic. She sensed the magic within her double then triple. She felt a sudden magical tug on her, and she knew the Apprentice was trying to stop her. "Regina, help me...please. I can't let her go back to a future where she's all alone."
"How do you know she'd..."
"Because it makes sense. She wouldn't be here if she wasn't." Emma kept her eyes focused on Regina all the while still concentrating on the task at hand.
Regina glanced at Rumplestiltskin. He met her gaze and slightly nodded his head. To block out the Apprentice she'd need help. She held up her hands creating a barrier around everyone in the circle. Once it was in place, Rumplestiltskin lifted his cane and slammed it down on the floor sending his light magic into the barrier fortifying it.
Emma felt the tug vanish, and she sighed in relief. "Thank you...both of you...hold on Alexis, you aren't leaving just yet." She closed her eyes and once again tapped into both the light and dark magic within her. Milliseconds passed before she felt a burst of the mixed magic explode from her hand. She opened her eyes to find Alexis breathing normally again. "Alexis..."
Lexi smiled and nodded her head. "I'm fine, Mom. The pain is gone. You did it. But you shouldn't have."
"Why not? I wasn't going to let you return to that."
"I know, but that's not what I'm talking about. You used the dark magic within you to reverse what the Apprentice did."
"I wasn't strong enough..."
Lexi sat up squeezing her mother's hand. She felt the dark magic swirling around inside her. It was tempting...too tempting, but she blocked it out. When she could she'd strip it from herself. Until then she'd keep it locked up where it couldn't hurt her or the people she loved. "Mom, you can't give in to the temptation of it."
"What do you mean?" Emma didn't like where this conversation was going.
"The Dark One may be asleep, but her influence over you isn't. By opening yourself up to the dark magic you allow her to blacken your heart."
"But it helped you...and I didn't do anything evil."
"No, you didn't...this time. But what happens next time you aren't strong enough? You'll tap into it again and give the Dark One exactly what she wants. You like Regina must block out the darkness and only focus on the light. It's stronger than the darkness. And once you open yourself completely to it you'll be ore powerful than even the Dark One herself."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I'm the product of true love. And because that bit of dark magic transferred to me when you broke the Apprentice's spell. I sense how tempting it is, and I only have a tiny bit where you have quite a bit more."
Emma looked over Alexis's shoulder at Killian and smiled. "We did...or will do good."
Killian returned the smile and a nod of his head. "Aye, and she takes after her mother."
"Well, this mother is going to make sure her daughter remains here until she chooses to leave." Emma closed her eyes and laid her hand on Alexis's chest. She focused on the light magic inside her blocking out the urge to use the dark. Her little girl was right, and she intended to listen to her. She felt her power swirl around inside of her before escaping through her hand. The spell would prevent anyone with light or dark magic to send her child away.
Henry watched in amazement as Emma and Lexi were engulfed in the light magic. His sister would be safe and here without any interference from anyone. As the white light faded, he hugged Regina close. She brought the barrier down with a wave of her hand. "What do we do now?"
Lexi took a deep breath and stood up with help from both her parents. "The first thing we have to do is send Mom away." The moment the words left her lips she received backlash from everyone around her. "Wait, I don't want her to leave any more than the rest of you, but let me explain. The Dark One sleeps but she is still aware of what we do through her. As long as she's here we can't make any plans to free her. The Dark One would stop us once she breaks free of the dagger's control.
"But she can't. I commanded her to sleep."
"You did Dad, but remember the dagger is designed to control the darkness that's tethered to a human soul. Because it doesn't have full control of Mom yet it can break free. And once she does Mom won't be the same. The Dark One will work to consume her soul so she'll have no one stopping her."
"I'd truly be the Dark One then."
"Yes, you will. She's going to try to convince you that your family doesn't love you..." Rumple knew firsthand what the darkness was capable of.
"But that's a lie. I know they love me."
"We always have, and we always will. We will find you, Emma. We will always find you." David wanted to make his intentions very clear to Emma. He wanted her to have no doubts about them freeing her from the Dark One.
"I know you will, Dad. I love you both so much." Emma hugged her parents close before turning to Henry. "Take care of everyone, Kid."
"I will, Mom. Don't give up hope."
"I won't." Emma turned to Killian with tear filled eyes. "I love you, Killian. I'm sorry I waited so long to say it."
"Don't worry about it, Love. Never doubt what we have, Emma. I love you with all my heart and soul. I will see you again, and we will have our family."
"Speaking of family...take care of Killian for me, Alexis."
"I will, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too." Emma stepped up to Killian and pulled him close to kiss him. When she stepped back she smiled slightly. "Goodbye," she said before vanishing in thin air.
"So, what do you suggest we do, Alexis?"
Lexi glanced over her shoulder at Rumple and frowned. "I'm not the one in charge. I'm just here to help."
"Yes, but I can tell you're planning something."
"You can read people very well, Mr. Gold. I was thinking of a place for everyone to go if we're welcome that is."
"Where?" Henry had to admit he was curious about his sister's plan.
"Arendelle...Elsa would be able to protect everyone and keep them safe."
"Are you kidding? She can't control her powers. I'd take my chances in the Enchanted Forest." Regina couldn't believe the suggestion was even on the table.
Lexi crossed her arms and shrugged her shoulders. "Suit yourself Regina, but the Dark One knows every inch of the Enchanted Forest. She doesn't know Arendelle."
"It might keep everyone safe. David, what do you think?"
David looked down at Snow nodding his head in agreement. "I think Arendelle would be safer than the Enchanted Forest." He glanced at Hook hearing him swear. "What's wrong?"
"Emma...the Dark One...took the dagger from me when Emma kissed me. We need that dagger."
"No, Dad, we need Merlin."