Chapter Eight: Isle of Tormented Souls

"This is impossible." Regina sighed in frustration. "I've been trying to do this for three days."

Lexi chuckled only to actually laugh after Regina glared at her. "I'm sorry, Regina. I don't mean to laugh, but this is deja vu for me."

"How so?"

"Reverse our roles...I said the exact same thing three days into my training with you."

"You did?"

"Yup, and I'm going to tell you what you told me."

"What's that?"

"You've got the power inside of you yearning to be released. It flows through you like the blood in your veins. What you have to do is stop using your head and start using your heart. Your heart is what turned your magic dark in the first place. And it's your heart that will turn your magic light."

"I told you that?"

"Yeah, you said I was thinking too much and what I needed to do was feel."

"Well, that does make sense since our magic is controlled by our emotions."

"There you go. Now you have to channel that good emotion I know is inside you and bring it to the surface."

"That's it? Why didn't you tell me that three days ago?"

"I did tell you, but telling and doing are two very different things."

"I can do it."

"Okay, move to the opposite side of the room using only light magic."

"Fine." Regina took a deep breath and began concentrating. She opened her eyes seconds later only to realize she actually hadn't moved an inch. "I don't understand."

"See, it's not as easy as you think."

"What am I don't wrong?"

"Nothing...you just have more darkness than light in you right now. What we have to do is begin to change that darkness into light."

"How?"

"First by getting rid of the sarcastic attitude."

Regina clenched her hands into fists and closed her eyes. Alexis was right. She was being sarcastic. But the anger and hate was a huge part of who she once was. She took a deep calming breath and released it slowly as she opened her eyes. She unclenched her fists and nodded her head. "You're right, but how m I supposed to let go of everything that makes me who I am?"

"You aren't, Regina. You weren't always the Evil Queen. And I'm not saying you have to do a one-eighty. That wouldn't be any better. We're all human which means we are constantly battling our inner demons. You have to balance yourself out."

"So, I have to go back to the pathetic girl I once was?"

Lexi laughed and shook her head. "No, but by letting go of your hate it'll be a step in the right direction."

"But I have let it go. I don't hate your grandmother any more."

"Yes, you have, but not all of it. I know you hate Zelena right now and with good reason. But all that hate swirling around inside of you is snuffing out the light just like the Dark One tried to do before Mom saved you."

"Lexi, Mom, you need to see this."

Regina looked up a Henry's worried face and nodded her head. She walked past Alexis and made her way to the deck above. The sight before her shocked her. She'd never seen so much magic being exerted before. It appeared to be a magical barrier blocking their path to the land just beyond it. "Is there no way around this thing?"

"No, it appears to encircle the entire bloody island." Killian moved away from the helm to stand beside Lexi.

"Who could have created it?" Snow looked up at David her concern etched into her face.

"Someone who clearly doesn't want visitors to Camelot." Robin moved to Regina's side and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"There has to be a way to get through." Elsa looked around at her friends.

Lexi smiled up at her dad before walking to the bow of the ship. She extended her hand ignoring the shouts of warning from her father, brother, and grandparents. She'd heard about this barrier in her time, but she and Henry never saw it. They never go close to camelot to see it, but she'd heard it wasn't a normal barrier. The barrier sparked and crackled with energy as her hand neared it. She could feel the incredible power behind it, but also the love.

"What are you doing?" Killian rushed forward grabbing Lexi and pulling her backwards before her hand touched the barrier.

Lexi looked up at her father. "This isn't a normal barrier. I heard about it while Henry and I were running from Mom. We were told it was put here by the Lady of the Lake to protect Merlin."

"There was no such barrier here before."

"And what did you see when you were here, Rumplestiltskin?"

"Violence...neighbor attacking neighbor and an empty castle."

Lexi nodded her head and glanced over her shoulder at the barrier. "That's what I thought. Henry told me stories of Camelot and King Arthur. In our realm the legend of King Arthur supposedly took place in England. England was in a constant state of war before Arthur united everyone and brought peace to the land."

"That's right and according to the Camelot story book that's exactly what happened here. The barrier was all ready here even when you were here, Grandpa. Lexi is right as well about who created the barrier. The Lady of the Lake did put it up to protect Merlin from the Dark One, but you corrupted the spell when you came to Camelot for that gauntlet."

"Because I was the Dark One when I came."

"Yes," Henry said grabbing the story book and opening it. "It says the Dark One's desires were transferred to the barrier protecting Camelot changing it."

"What does that mean?" Belle looked up a Rumple as he clenched his jaw.

"It means just what Henry said. I corrupted the spell. The barrier absorbed some of the darkness as I passed through it, and it infected the people."

"Which means what exactly?" David really didn't like where this conversation was going.

Lexi turned her head back around and sighed. "Which means we can't cross that barrier without trying to kill each other. There's too much violence in Camelot and the barrier is feeding off it. Only those with the darkest hearts can pass unchanged, but the rest of us basically becomes our dark self."

"So it's like the Shattered Sight spell?"

"Yes, it is but without the glass. The longer we're in Camelot the darker our hearts become." Lexi glanced at each person and saw the same look of despair that she felt at that moment.

"You mean we came all this way for nothing?" Regina really didn't like her time to be wasted.

"No, it just means we have to find Merlin without actually crossing this barrier."

"And how do we do that, Alexis?!"

"Back off Regina, before I make you with the help of my hook." Killian wasn't about to stand by and allow anyone to snap at his daughter.

"Dad, it's all right. Regina is right. It'll be next to impossible to find Merlin while we're on the outside of this barrier."

"The Evil Queen is never right, Lass. And she has no cause to snap at you like that."

"I'm the Evil Queen again? Pirate, you have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Stop it all of you! Lexi, we're too close to the barrier. It's all ready affecting them."

"Can you steer us away from it, Henry?"

"I can try." Henry closed the book and ran to the helm. He placed the book beside the wheel as he spun it. "We're not turning!"

"And the sails wouldn't help either since the wind would push us through the barrier!"

Henry picked the book up and left the helm making his way across the deck to Lexi's side. "The anchor is the only thing keeping us out at the moment, but if they keep fighting..."

"I know. This is just like the storm in Neverland."

"What are you talking about?"

"When Mom and everyone came to rescue you from Pan in Neverland. There was a mermaid that created a storm. It caused everyone to fight which made the storm worse. Mom jumped overboard to get everyone's attention, but was knocked out by some of the rigging that snapped off the Jolly Roger. Because everyone worked together to save her the storm disappeared."

"How do you know that? I didn't even know about that."

"I read the story books that appeared in your bag when you were sleeping. You told me the stories, but the books reveled things you didn't know about like the storm in Neverland."

"So how does that hep us here?"

"We have to do the same thing. We have to get their attention and get them to work together."

"The barrier...but how will that help us?"

"It sparked and crackled before when my hand was near it."

"It sensed your magic."

"Yeah, and if I can get a big enough jolt I might be able to shield the Jolly Roger from the effects of the barrier."

"That could kill you."

"Then you'll have to complete this operation for me, big brother."

"I can't let you do this." Henry reached out with his free hand and grabbed his sister's arm.

"We don't have a choice, Henry. It won't be long before everyone stops bickering and starts shedding blood. I have to try."

"Okay, " Henry said releasing his hold on Lexi. He didn't like it one single bit, but she was right. Besides, even if everyone didn't start killing each other it would be only a matter of minutes before the tip of the bow crossed the barrier. He knew once that happened what Lexi planned wouldn't work. He backed up moving toward the bow as both Killian and David drew their swords. "Lexi!"

Panic instantly ran through her as she reached the bow. Lexi knew she only had one chance to get this right. She took a deep breath before extending her hand toward the barrier. It sparked and cracked as it did before. She pushed her hand closer hearing clashing swords behind her. A pulse of white energy erupted from the barrier entering her body and knocking her backwards across the bow of the ship.

"Lexi, are you all right?" Henry ran to his sister's side.

"I think so. Man, that first zap gets me every time." Lexi rose to her feet only to sway slightly. "Okay, the ship can stop spinning now."

"This isn't good. You must have absorbed too much energy."

"I'm fine. I can still do this." Lexi extended her hands sending out beams of white light covering every part of the ship in the warm light. It took seconds for the warm glow to encircle the ship from bow to stern.

Snow dropped her hands mid punch and looked around. She spotted Henry and Lexi at the bow of the ship. "Henry, what is she doing?"

"She's putting a protection spell around us and the ship."

"It'll protect you from the cursed barrier...as we pass through it." Lexi sucked in a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut as the Jolly Roger touched the barrier.

"What's happening?" Killian dropped his sword as Lexi cried out again.

"It appears the barrier's curse is attacking her so it can get to us." Rumple frowned seeing the girl wince in clear pain.

"Then don't just stand there, Crocodile! Help her!"

"I can't, Pir...Killian. None of us can help because we've all ready been touched by the curse. If Regina or I try to help, the barrier's curse will feed off the darkness still within us. Then it will turn us again to reach the rest of you."

"I will not stand by while my daughter is tortured again!" Killian moved toward the bow of the ship. He would find a way to help her.

Lexi opened her eyes and shook her head. She lowered her left hand creating a barrier around herself. "No! I can't let you get hurt, Dad. I won't let you be infected by this barrier. You have to find Merlin and save Mom."

Killian stopped beside Henry inches from the barrier surrounding Lexi. "And I can't stand by and watch you get hurt. I'm supposed to protect you."

Another jolt of electricity shot through her body causing Lexi to sway while her knees tried to buckle under her. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, but she held her barriers in place. The Jolly Roger was almost completely through the barrier's curse. She looked at her father smiling as the stern of the ship slipped completely through the barrier. "You do protect me. You always will, Daddy. Ahh!"

"Alexis!" Killian rushed to his daughter's side as both of her barriers vanished. He held her close not liking how limp she was.

"There must be something we can do." Robin looked around at the gathered group.

"I'm afraid there's not."

Killian's head snapped up at the new voice. "Who the bloody hell are you, and what do you mean there's nothing we can do?"

"I'm Vivienne also known here as the Lady of the Lake. Killian, the girl's soul has been stripped away and sent to the Isle of Tormented Souls."

"How do you know my name?"

"I know who all of you are except for the girl. I've been waiting a very long time for you."

"What's the Isle of Tormented Souls?" Snow stepped up behind Killian and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"It's a place the Dark One created when he came here thirty years ago." Vivienne turned her gaze toward Rumplestiltskin before continuing. "The girl's soul has been ripped away from her body much like the former Evil Queen's sleeping curse."

"So she's just sleeping?" Henry knelt down and gently squeezed Lexi's limp hand.

"No, Henry, she's not just sleeping. Unlike the sleeping curse she is constantly fighting for her life. If she is killed there then her body here will die as well."

"Great another rescue mission, and I though we were here to save Emma."

"No, Regina, this is not another rescue mission. Nothing can be done for her. Only the Dark One can free her from this curse."

"The Dark One won't help her. Emma would, but if she's not in control..."

"Then I'm truly sorry, Killian."

"No, we'll find a way. First we need to find Merlin then Emma. Do you know where Merlin is?"

"I knew at one time, but that was a very long time ago."

"What does that mean?"

"Regina, snapping at her doesn't help us."

"It's all right, Snow White. Regina still has an anger problem. It seems the girl wasted her time on you." Vivienne shook her head before she continued. "What I mean is Merlin's location keeps changing. When I found him trapped I knew Morgan would one day seek him out. I had to protect him, so I cast a spell that would move the tomb from time to time so no one would hopefully find him."

"You couldn't free him?"

"No, Henry, I could not. I was not strong enough then and even less so now. I know where the original location of the tomb was, ad I hope from there we can find clues on where to go."

"Then we should hurry."

Killian glared up at the crocodile. He acted as though it was his bloody life on the line instead of Alexis and Emma. "Henry, will you help me get your sister to the Captain's quarters?"

"I'll send you there, Killian. And I suggest Henry stay behind to keep watch over the girl."

Henry jumped to his feet and starred at the woman before him. "But I want to help find Merlin. I didn't come along just to be left behind."

"Yet the girl needs you more, Henry. You have to keep her safe while we're gone. Camelot isn't a safe place any more."

"Maybe she's right, Lad. It'll ease my mind knowing you both are safe here on the ship."

"She's not right Killian, but I'll stay on the Jolly Roger if that's what you guys want."

"We'll be back before you know it. I love you, Henry." Regina kissed Henry on the forehead.

Henry smiled slightly as he shifted the story book still in his arms. "I love you too, Mom."

Vivienne smiled as she waved her hands and Killian, Henry, and the girl vanished. "When Killian returns we'll begin."

Killian sighed as he gently laid Lexi's limp body on the bed. "We'll find your Mom, Love. I won't give up."

"She'll be okay, Killian."

"I know she will. I'm just worried, my boy."

"Worried that you won't save her or won't save Mom?"

"Sadly, both," Killian answered as he straightened to his full height. "I'm a villain, Henry. And villains don't get happy endings."

"You're not a villain any more, Killian. You're a hero just like both of my mothers are. You can't give up now."

"You're right, Lad. It's hard to let go of the self doubt."

Henry sat down on the edge of the bed and placed the story book beside Lexi against the wall. "Then you need to take a good long look at my sister here. She was created out of your true love with Mom. If you were still a villain she wouldn't be here right?"

Killian smiled and nodded his head. Henry was right. It was time he started believing in himself as much as the Lad did. "You're right, Henry. I better go so we can find Merlin. We'll be back soon."

Henry smiled as he nodded his head. "I'll be right here. Where else would I be?"

"All right," Killian said as he took one last look at Lexi before heading back up stairs. "What are we waiting for? We have a Sorcerer to find and a Dark One to destroy."