Having been alerted to an unknown presence in the Mayor's office — but it wasn't unknown, not really, because there was only one person who would be so brash as to enter what was unquestioningly Regina's domain — Regina and Robin charged through the door, unsurprised to find Zelena there.
She was sitting back in Regina's desk chair, feet up on the desk, twirling through a thick book of green swatches, her twisted smile reaching her icy eyes.
"Gina! Robbie!" Zelena sang tauntingly. "Come on in!"
Regina's blood was boiling — and as she glanced over at her conference table, her anger reached a new level, because the decorative bowl in the center which usually held ruby red apples from her prized tree, was now home to bright green granny smiths.
"What do you think you're doing," Regina snapped, looking around, beginning to notice other small changes that had been made to her sanctuary.
"At the moment, I'm trying to decide what color would look best on your walls — I mean, my walls," she grinned, thumbing again through the swatch book.
"Kelly? Hunter? Pistachio?" she asked, and her eyes brightened, letting out a strangled chuckle. "Oh my God…I just realized that all three of those work as baby names," she glittered, delighted in herself.
"It's all just coming together," she hummed, quite content as she leaned back in her chair once more, hungry eyes resting on Regina's frame.
More than annoyed, Regina reached for the swatch book and threw it down to the bottom of the trash can angrily. She was fed up with her sister's threats — there was enough to worry about without Zelena plotting her demise, and the theft of her child. Of course, she had placed more than one enchantment over herself — over her womb, and the life within it — but Zelena was a cunning witch, and one who was well versed in magic. Regina would never admit it out loud, but she was quite certain her sister was more adept in the art of spells than she. So there was always a risk. There was always fear.
"You're not moving in, sis," Regina grumbled, feeling Robin press himself against her from behind. Always her support.
"Well, perhaps I'm slightly premature," Zelena offered, her brow raising — because Regina was only just at the halfway mark of her pregnancy.
"But…in an hour, you'll both be dead! And everything that's yours now, will be mine. Again. Like that," she spit the last word like venom, her finger pointing to Regina's middle.
Zelena was banking on the fact that when the Dark Ones came to take the lives they had marked, that the baby would be returned to her body.
"No," Robin answered angrily, his hand sliding protectively to Regina's hip, stepping just a bit closer, closing the space between himself and the witch, ready to step in, to protect his love and his child.
"You see, our child deserves her best chance.." Robin added, and he felt Regina fishing in the pocket of her coat.
"And that's not with you," Regina cut in, holding up the Apprentice's wand.
"Ahhh, yes. The withered knob of that sad old man," Zelena hummed, unaffected by Regina's weak attempt at a threat.
"If memory serves, the last time you tried to use it, you weren't powerful enough to make it work," Zelena reminded her with a smile, tickled at the opportunity to point out another of Regina's shortcomings.
But Regina lifted the wand, and held it out in front of her, and in an instant it was glowing purple around the handle, the air buzzing with powerful magic.
"If my memory serves…" Regina hummed, trying to keep her hand steady where the magic coursed through her and flowed into the wand — she was only partially successful in that.
"Last time, I didn't believe in myself. But now I do. As does everyone this town," she pointed out with a smile. "SO. Let's go somewhere, just the two of us," she whispered happily, and without any hesitation, she waved her hand and they were gone from the room in a cloud of purple smoke.
Robin was startled — this hadn't been part of the plan. He let out a sigh, and turned on his heels, hurrying out the door. Wherever Regina had taken them, he was sure there would be some sign of it. Zelena wouldn't go down without a fight — and Robin was fearful for that very reason.
Appearing in the clocktower overlooking Storybrooke, Zelena's back was to the clock. One quick glance around told her exactly where she was, and memories of this place brought a smile to her lips. She had tossed Regina like a rag doll through this clock's face, and oh what she would do for another opportunity.
"Oh, such a letdown," Zelena sighed, her lip curled in disgust. "Such a letdown. I thought you were going to use the thingy."
"Oh, I am," Regina growled, wand held tightly in her hand. "So you'd better hang on…"
Lifting the wand up once more, letting her magic pulse through to the point, Regina flicked her wrist towards the clock. Thunder rumbled outside, and the ground began to tremble. The sky turned a sickly grey and green, and a cyclone appeared, barreling down the center of town.
As the glass of the clock face shattered around them, Regina only smiled, watching gleefully as Zelena began to stumble back, the magic's tendrils reaching in for its target. In one gust, Zelena was lifted off of her feet, clinging desperately to the iron bars of the clock's frame. Legs flailed wildly behind her, kicking at some invisible force — but she was failing this fight.
"I am NOT done!" Zelena screeched through gritted teeth. She would never give up so easily. Regardless of where Regina was sending her, she would find her way back — she would find a way to take back her child — and take her revenge.
"YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN," the witch screamed, losing her grip and flying backwards, sucked up into the vortex of magic.
Regina grinned, completely satisfied and completely exhilarated.
"Somewhere over the rainbow," she laughed to herself. "Enjoy Oz, witch."
The moment the tail of the cyclone disappeared, the deep color of magic dissipating and leaving light trails of clouds in its wake, Regina lost that sense of exhilaration. She lurched forward, bracing herself against the iron beam of the shattered clock. She let out a shaky exhale, her opposite hand pressing to her belly.
This wasn't nausea. It was a hollow heaviness in the pit of her stomach, and she swallowed hard to keep the bile from rising any further in her throat. Questions flashed in Regina's eyes, wondering if by sending Zelena — and her magic — away, she had put the child in jeopardy. A few slow breaths were drawn in an effort to steady herself, and she pushed away from the clock. "Our greatest enemy isn't each other. It's ourselves." Regina's own words echoed in her thoughts as she made her way carefully down the tower steps, hoping that fate wouldn't feel the need to remind her of this again — at the expense of her child.
And then it was something else — Regina stumbled forward on the steps at the sudden sharp pain, her eyes closing tight as she braced for the inevitable impact. She crashed to her knees, rolling as best she could to her side, letting her hip bear the weight of her fall. Her wrist was burning, flesh searing, and as her eyes opened once more, sucking in a deep breath against the pain and letting it out in a low moan of agony, she saw the Dark One's mark glowing white against her flesh.
In an instant, Regina was somewhere else altogether. She was still on the ground, but now surrounded by the tall stalks of vaguely familiar legs. She whimpered as she moved to stand, and before she could ask, arms were reaching down to help her to her feet. Robin and Charming were holding her steady, Snow and Henry's eyes locked on her with worry.
"I'm alright, I'm alright," she promised, and tried to avoid Gold's eyes — because there was little else in this life she hated more than showing weakness in front of him.
"Henry?" Regina asked, stepping forward when she'd regained her balance, slipping out from under the protective hold of Charming and Robin. "Are you alright?" she whispered, her hands going to his shoulders.
"I think so," he offered as weak consolation. His mother's arms were going around him then, and though his worry for her ran deep, he allowed himself the selfishness of being comforted by her — because she was still his mom.
"Neal's back at the Diner —," Snow gasped, becoming aware of their new location a few seconds behind everyone else.
"Roland? Where is he?" David asked nervously, his gaze on Robin.
"He's safe," he promised — and his words, when spoken out loud, brought him comfort, too. "He's with the fairies. They'll take Neal as well," he assured them both. And they would. The town had been bracing for this moment for hours, and plans had already been laid for the unmarked children of Storybrooke.
Regina felt Robin move behind her, and together they stood with Henry wrapped tight in their arms, their eyes roaming around the open field. The Dark Ones surrounded them in menacing silence.
"So this is really it," Henry asked nervously, his voice smaller than it had sounded in years. He couldn't help the arm that reached forward around his mother, his forearm making contact with the firm swell of life inside. His heart was breaking, then, knowing that all of his good intentions and best kept secrets and Operation: Dingo — it was all for nothing.
Regina turned sadly to look at her son, wishing that she could have kept him from this — or at least kept him from realizing that death was eminent.
"Afraid it is, lad," Hook apologized insincerely. And he smiled.
"Look," the Dark pirate seethed. "The S.S. Purgatory," he joked darkly.
They all turned at his prompt, watching in horror as the dark boat made its way across the pond, riding on the rolling fog.
"MOM! DAD! HENRY!"
Emma's familiar voice was frantic as she ran out from the thicket of trees, racing towards them, hoping that she could still make this right — that she could turn this final stand to her advantage.
Henry rushed away from Regina's arms and into the embrace of his other mother, quickly joined in a clump by David and Snow.
"I"m so sorry, I tried…" she lamented, her woes punctuated by a deep sob.
"We know," Snow promised, desperate to console her daughter. But what consolation could there really be. "It's okay," she whispered.
Regina was enraged — because sorrow never lingered long in her bones. It always boiled into anger.
"It's time to drop the act," she demanded, and she took several long strides boldly towards the pirate.
"You can just sit back and watch another family be destroyed to get your revenge," she plead with him. They'd had a dark past together, too. And Regina knew more about Hook's pain and weakness than he would have liked.
"What makes you think I can't," he asked dryly, uninterested in rehashing old wounds — or in healing them.
"Because of what we swore to never speak of again. I know the real reason you don't want to talk about what you did to your father…"
"I believe we've already had this conversation," Hook gritted. And they had. Down by the docks. But it hadn't ended in Regina's favor.
"But this time you're going to listen," she insisted. "Because if you don't, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life, which in your case, means forever." Regina was no stranger to regret, and while it seemed somewhat self serving now, when her very life was at this man's mercy, deep in her heart, she did want redemption for him. Because redemption had given her everything.
"So you have to ask yourself the same question you did that night. What kind of man do you want to be," Regina asked softly, her eyes sad and pleading — she could feel it, and she hated it. But now was not the time to temper her emotions. Why bother? She was going to die, either way.
Hook's eyes went dark, his gaze glassy and distant. Regina's words had made him reconsider, as the memories of his father flooded his mind. He stood, and stared in silence, the world around him melting away and giving life to his thoughts.
"It's time," Nimue interrupted, and she stepped forward with a dark and crooked smile, ready to enact their dark purpose.
Regina backed away from Hook, then, and found her place between Henry and Robin once more. They stood and stared forward — all of them — waiting to see what horrors lay in store.
"No. You're not taking the people I LOVE!" Emma shouted angrily, determination and fire marking her steps forward.
But Nimue interceded with the flick of her wrist, and Emma was held mid-air, choking on the grip of magic around her throat.
"I may not be able to kill you, but I can stop you from interfering," Nimue promised, her grip tightening.
Emma's face was turning a deep shade of red, then blue. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she gasped and gurgled as she struggled for breath that would not come. Snow flinched, aching to help her, to rescue her — but there was little she could do against a Dark One.
The life was being squeezed from her, and it went on for an eternity. The weak squeaking sounds of dying breath was too much to bear but they were powerless —
"—That's enough!" Hook demanded, turning to Nimue — and she snarled in reply, visibly displeased with this rebellion.
"What do you think you're doing," she growled.
"Being the man I want to be," Hook quipped.
"You can't stop us."
"Yes. I can."
Hook held up the blade of Excalibur and narrowed his eyes, his power flowing freely from it. Dark black tendrils wrapped around the inlaid blade and began pulling the Dark Ones in one by one. Emma, free of Nimue's magical grip, dropped to the grass, quickly scrambling to her feet.
Killian was holding his ground, trembling as the incredible force of the Dark Ones flooded over and around and into the sword. It glowed red with power, and Hook was shaking beneath its force. He gritted his teeth and began to turn to Emma — and they both knew what he meant to do.
"Killian you can't do this," she begged.
This had been her plan all along, but now that she was faced with the task, and now that he had showed some sign of remorse for his actions, it was much harder to justify — impossible.
"We both know there's no other way, love," He groaned, straining hard to keep from being overcome by the heavy magic in his hand.
"We have to hurry," he reminded her. "The darkness won't stay trapped in Excalibur much longer —," he grunted. And the only way this could be worse is if they were unleashed a second time, this time mutinying against their current embodiment.
"Take it," he begged.
But Emma begged him not to make her.
"You have to help me, Swan. Take it," he plead with her, his whole body succumbing to tremors.
"I can't," Emma sighed sadly, squeezing her eyes shut as if that alone would make this responsibility pass from her. "It should be me."
"Your family needs you," he reminded her. "If anyone deserves to go to the Underworld, it's me." he confessed. "You were right, I was weak. So let me make up for it now by being strong," he begged her, wincing in pain.
They exchanged laments, neither one wanting the other to leave. But time was running out and a choice had to be made.
"Let me die a hero. That's the man I want you to remember me as, please…"
Emma reached forward with both hands, taking the sword from him with sorrow in her eyes. She groaned when the weight was in her arms, trembling as she struggled to keep the magic contained. She grimaced as she looked into his eyes, knowing that their end was near. There was no happy ending to be had here. There was no choice.
"I love you," she promised, and she backed away slowly, holding the sword out in front of her. It thrummed with magic, the sound making her sick.
"It's okay," he promised, nodding his head and holding his arms out when he saw the hesitation in her eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he braced for the impact, crying out when Emma charged forward, sinking the blade deep in his belly. She held him, the hilt still in her palm, and wept. Because this was goodbye.
As they stood together, Hook shivering and eyes rolling back, the Dark One's magic left Emma's body. Her hair returned to its natural yellow, and the dark clothes she'd been wearing melting away. She was just Emma.
As she pulled the blade back, it fell to dust, and the wound on his neck returned.
Hook fell to the ground in pain, and Emma went with him, holding him and trying to comfort him while everyone watched on, horrified at what they'd witnessed. But the Dark One's reign had ended, and Hook had died a hero.
They would live to see another morning — because of him.