Author's Notes: Thank you to my newest followers and reviewers as well as to the rest of my followers. You guys are what keep me writing. You rock. And I'm sorry it's taken a little while to get this next chapter out, but thanks for sticking with it.
Chapter Six: Surprises
*Fifteen Minutes Earlier*
Snow walked out of the Author's house and climbed into David's truck. Driving through Storybrooke it felt completely deserted. Was this what Henry felt when everyone had been swept away because of Isaac? She shuddered at the thought. As she arrived at the loft she hoped this wasn't a fools errand. She turned off the truck, climbed out, and entered the building.
"Where the hell is it?!"
Snow stopped in her tracks hearing Emma's enraged voice echo from the loft. It would seem she wasn't the only one to have the same theory. She knew she shouldn't be surprised. Ema was her daughter after all. But she did know she needed to wait until Emma left. She didn't want to face the Dark One's wrath without a back-up plan.
Emma's head snapped up and a smile spread across her crocodile face. She walked to the door and opened it. "You might as well come on up, Snow White. I know you're down there."
Snow sighed and climbed the stairs stopping just outside the loft. "What do you want, Dark One?"
"So I'm the Dark One now? What happened to Emma?"
Snow clenched her hands into fists and glared at the darkness in front of her. "I will not call you by my daughter's name. You may control her, but we will defeat you."
"Such pretty, pretty words Snow, but I don't think so. Now where is it?"
"Where's what?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Princess. Where's the object you came here to retrieve?"
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about. I just came for Neal's baby blanket. I can't have my son getting cold."
"You're lying, Snow."
"Now why would I do that, Dark One? Look behind you if you don't believe me. His baby blanket it right there in the crib."
"You're trying to distract me so you can get it for yourself. I won't let you have it."
"Have what? Look who's being paranoid now." Snow pushed past the Dark One and walked straight toward Neal's crib. She mentally thanked David for leaving the blanket in the crib that morning. She knew she was treading on thin ice, but she had to find what she came for.
"I could kill you for your rudeness."
Snow glanced over her shoulder and nodded her head. "You could. But..."
"But...I won't...for now. You might still be of some use to me."
Snow leaned over the crib and grabbed the blanket. She righted herself before sighing. "So, now I'm your prisoner?"
"Yes, you're my prisoner until I get what is mine."
"Which is what exactly?"
"The book, but you knew that all ready."
"The book...you know our town library has lots of books."
"Oh, shut up!"
Snow held up her hands and closed her mouth. She clutched the baby blanket in her left hand. She walked slowly around the Dark One and sat down on her bed. She folded the blanket in her hands before laying it on the bed. She then began picking up and folding the clothes scattered on the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Cleaning up your mess, Dark One. If I'm a prisoner I might as well do something with my time."
"You can stop your 'cleaning' and start looking for the damn book." The Dark One clenched her hands into tight fists. When her host left the safety of her family that's when she struck taking back control. It wasn't without difficulty. Her new host was strong. But she was stronger.
Snow dropped her hands into her lap. "I really don't know what book you're looking for, Dark One."
"You think me a fool, Princess?"
"No, I think of you as a vile creature who steals happiness and joy from others in order to keep your power." Precious minutes ticked by and Snow knew it wouldn't be long before David realized she'd been gone too long. She jumped as her cell phone began to ring.
"Who's that calling, Snow?"
"Probably my husband asking why I'm not back yet."
"So you are here for the book!"
"No, I told you why I came, Dark One. My son needed his baby blanket."
"You lie!" The Dark One waved her hand sending a magical slap against the Princess's pretty face knocking her unconscious. She was tired of the games, but she also knew she was out of time. With Emma's magic mixed with her own she knew she could defeat them, but Emma was a problem. She still didn't have complete control over the woman. But perhaps killing Emma's mother would finally give her what she desired...a destroyed host that she could completely control.
The Dark One smiled as she walked up to the unconscious form laying on the bed. She reached into the inside pocket of the black leather coat and removed her dagger. She had taken the pirate's coat as a reminder to Emma of the love she'd once again lost and would never get back. It smelled of him and she suddenly wondered what it would do to Emma if she made love to her pirate. She felt a sharp pain in her mind causing the Dark One to smile again. Her host was pissed off with her...good.
She lifted the dagger over her head as her smile widened. "Time to say goodbye, Emma." Her smile froze on her face before turning into a frown. She willed her arm to move, but it remained hight above her head. No, she would not lose control!
Emma concentrated on breaking through the wall surrounding her. She knew if she didn't her mother would die. She saw a speck of light come through and immediately stilled her hands. She knew she had to work fast. Once the Dark One realized what she was doing she would enclose her once more. Emma focused and broke through more of the wall surrounding her.
She could hear the Dark One screaming in her mind as she completely broke free reemerging once more. She tried to step away from her mother but found her feet weren't listening to her. It seemed the Dark One was now trying to take back her control. "No! I won't let you harm my mother!"
'You won't! I think you will! She will be the first of many I kill. And you won't be able to lift a finger to stop me, Emma! Now say goodby to your Mommy!'
"No!" Emma felt the Dark One overtaking her again. She couldn't allow this to happen. She wouldn't! She had to leave before she lost control. She slammed her eyes shut and waved her free hand around herself vanishing into the dark purple smoke. When she opened her eyes she was at the magic well far away from town.
'You think you've saved your mother?'
Emma sighed but smiled slightly. "I have for now."
'Perhaps you have, but who will save you from me?'
Emma opened her mouth to reply but instead a pain filled scream was ripped from her. It felt like electricity was shooting through her entire body. Her knees buckled depositing her body onto the cold ground in a crumpled heap. She jerked on the ground until the pain stopped and she welcomed the blackness of unconsciousness.
The Dark One reemerged with an enraged cry. She picked herself up off the ground before brushing off the dirt and leaves covering her. It was pointless to return to the loft now. Regina would have all ready arrived with back-up. No, she would just have to proceed to Camelot without the book and wait for the heroes to arrive.
"Snow!" David rushed to his wife's side once Regina's purple smoke cleared. He reached her side then felt for a pulse. Relief overwhelmed him as he felt a strong pulse beating beneath his fingertips.
Regina frowned as she looked around the loft. The Dark One had been here. Even if the loft wasn't in shambles she'd have known because she sensed the magic left behind. What she didn't know was why the Dark One had even been here? "Is she all right, David?"
"Oh, wow, that hurt. Yes, Regina, I'm all right. Where's Emma?"
David shook his head as he kept a watchful eye on his wife. "I don't know. The loft was empty when we arrived."
"How did you even know to look for me here?"
"Regina did a mirror location spell then brought me here. Why did you come here, Snow?"
Snow rose to her feet and pointed her hand toward the closet. She moved around her bed and opened the closet door. She reached into the back and pulled out a very old chest. A smile spread across her face as she brought it to her bed. The way her clothes and shoes had been thrown around the loft Snow knew the Dark One should have also found this chest. She took a deep breath before she opened it to find a leather bound storybook at the bottom under the shambled clothes that filled the chest.
David smiled seeing the book in his wife's hands. "How did you know it'd be there?"
"I didn't. I just hoped it would be. The Dark One looked in this chest as well but didn't find it."
Regina smiled and shook her head. "The book didn't want to be found by the Dark One."
"No, but it knew we needed it. Lets get out of here before the Dark One decided to try again." Snow held the book against her chest as she reached for the folded baby blanket. She might as well take it with her just incase Neal really did need it.
"I agree, but something tells me she won't try again." Regina swirled her magic around herself and the Charmings sending them all back to the Author's house. "Is everyone ready?"
Henry walked out of the other room with slumped shoulders. "I suppose so. I still can't find the book we need."
"You mean this one?" Snow handed the storybook over to Henry.
"You found it! Where was it?"
"In my closet like your storybook had been."
"I should have thought to look there."
"We all have a lot on our minds, Henry. The important thing is we found it. Now lets get to Arendelle while we can."
"I'm right there with you, sister." Lee Roy slipped behind Snow along with his fellow dwarfs. He stepped through the portal and breathed a sigh of relief as the warmth of summer greeted him.
Elsa smiled as the citizens of Stroybrooke began arriving through the portal. She welcomed each one before they were shown to a room by the castle staff. As she expected Hook, Henry, Regina, Robin, Mary Margret, and David were the last to arrive. But they didn't arrive alone. She watched the girl with the raven hair streaked with white and emerald green eyes step through with Henry before moving to stand beside Hook. "Welcome everyone to Arendelle."
Snow stepped forward and wrapped Elsa into a warm hug. "Thank you for doing this, Elsa."
"It's no trouble, Mary Margret. How else can I help?"
"Have you heard of a land called Camelot?"
Elsa turned to face Hook and nodded her head. "Yes, I have. It's a land that's a three days journey by sea." Elsa frowned seeing Mr. Gold standing by her friends. "What is he doing here?"
Snow smiled as she stepped up beside Rumplestiltskin and Belle. "He's a different man now, Elsa."
"But he lied about knowing Anna."
Rumple stepped forward slightly as Snow returned to Charming and Neal's side. "I did because she knew I was trying to free myself from the dagger's control. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you, your Majesty."
"So what's changed?"
"I'm now free from both the darkness and the dagger. I'm free to help those I truly care about and become the man I should be instead of a beast."
"And you trust him?"
Regina smirked at the question. "We're taking it one day at a time. If you can point us in the right direction i can get us to Camelot much faster."
"I wouldn't recommend it. From what my advisors say Camelot is cloaked by magic. If you try to get there using magic you'll never find it. Going by ship is the safest way." Elsa hated the looks on her friends faces.
"Who could have cloaked it and why?" Snow didn't like where this was going.
"Who cares! It means we're going to be stuck on a ship for three days. Remember our last boat ride?" Regina really hated not being able to use her magic. It made her feel weak when she was restricted to no magic.
Lexi smiled at Regina. "Then it'll give you time to focus on your light magic, Regina."
"You really are your mother's daughter. You know that?"
Lexi laughed and nodded her head. "That's what I've heard. But you know I'm right."
Regina glared at the girl for a moment before commenting. "You're a Charming, Lexi. Your family is always right."
"Regina, I didn't mean it that way."
The former Evil Queen sighed. "I know. I'm sorry, Alexis. I'm a little on edge."
"And scared."
"I'm not...how do you know me so well?
"Because you're my teacher remember."
"Yeah, now that doesn't make sense. You say I'm your teacher, but you told everyone in Storybrooke Robin and I did after Gold and Belle, so how can I be your teacher?"
Lexi wondered how long it'd be before Regina asked that question. "Henry quickly realized I had magic and once it was just him, me, and Liam he tried to teach me."
"How?"
"With the spell book Rumplestiltskin gave to your mother."
"But those spells deal with dark magic."
"Yes, they do, but there's light magic in it too. But that's all we had at the time until you appeared. You told us you'd been sent to help me harness my light magic. And by learning to use it we might have a way to finally defeat the Dark One and save Mom. So, now I'm returning the favor. Let me teach you to harness your light magic."
"You really want to help me?"
"Yes, I really do. You may try to act like you're still the Evil Queen, but I know differently. You've changed, Regina. You can see it in the eyes of the people who care about you. It's time to start believing in yourself the way we believe in you."
Regina looked deep into Lexi's emerald green eyes. So many people had lied to her over the years that it was hard to see the truth. The eyes were her best weapon to see the real truth. And what she saw in Lexi's eyes left no doubt in her mind. The girl radiated truth through those eyes. "All right, I'll try."
"Excellent, but we still need to per cure a ship to get us on our way." Killian was tired of all the waiting around. They were running out of time.
"No, we don't. I believe I have in my possession just the ship to get us to Camelot."
"Us...you're coming with us to Camelot?" Snow watched Els nod her head. "But what about Arendelle? She still needs her Queen. Won't Hans try to attack again?"
"I will leave Arendelle in Anna's capable hands. She and Kristoff should be returning from their honeymoon any time now."
"Elsa, what's...David."
"Speaking of my sister," Elsa said smiling as she turned around wrapping Anna in a warm hug.
"Hello, Anna, Kristoff," David said before hugging both friends.
"What are you all doing here Not that you can't come to visit, but I'm just surprised is all." Anna couldn't believe the entire town of Storybrooke was now residing inside the castle.
Snow smiled as she gently rocked Neal in his stroller. "We needed Elsa's help."
"Oh, well, I know Elsa would help you out. What's Rumplestiltskin doing here?"
"I'm trying to make amends, young Anna."
"And you believe him?"
"Anna..."
"It's quite all right. If I was in her shoes I wouldn't believe me either. It'll take a long time to redeem myself." Rumple squeezed the top of his cane. He wasn't angry at the young woman. She had a valid point. No, he fought the urge to cower under the Princess's questioning gaze.
Anna smiled hearing the sincerity in his words. She might have been fooled by Hans trickery, but she'd worked very hard to learn from that mistake. "It's good to hear, sir. You've begun a new lighter path. Where's Emma?"
Killian stiffened at the mention of her name. "That's why we're here, Lass. We're trying to save Emma from the darkness of the Dark One."
"Wait, what?"
"And that's why I'm leaving Arendellef in your hands. They're going to need my hep where they're going."
Kristoff looked from his wife to his sister-in-law to his friends. "Where's that, Elsa?"
"Camelot, Mate, and we don't have a minute to waste. The sooner we free Emma the sooner this one can be conceived." Killian wrapped his arm around Lexi's shoulders.
Lexi smiled as her face heated with embarrassment. She leaned into her father's embrace and buried her face into his jacket. "I love you too, Dad."
"Dad..how is she your daughter?" None of this made any sense to Anna.
"It's a long story, Princess. Your Majesty, you said you had a ship we could use."
Elsa looked from father to daughter and smiled. "Yes, I do. I took it from Hans once we returned from Storybrooke and took back Arendelle from him."
Killian felt his heartbeat quicken in his chest. Could it be his ship? "By chance does this ship have a name?"
"She does, and I believe you know her...Captain."
"Bloody hell, you have the Jolly Roger."
"Yes, and I'm returning her to you. Now lets go save Emma."