p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1cm; text-align: center;"strongspan lang="EN-US"#17/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Thank you," Guinevere says, addressing all the visitors. "Thank you all, Camelot will always be in debt with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""You're welcome," Snow smiles, her bow resting on her shoulder. "Now the kingdom is yours. We know you will lead it wisely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""No, it's not mine," she replies, shaking her head. "It's ours," she explains, waving towards her people. "We will get it up again, and this time it will be for real," she finishes, before approaching the disgraced king and stepping on the hand that's still holding Excalibur. She picks up the sword. "We won't need this for that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She hands over the sword and Snow takes it gratefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""'It's mine!" Arthur's growl is hoarse and broken./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Merlin shakes his head, not looking at him. "It was never yours, Arthur. I made a terrible mistake; you were never worthy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Take him away," Guinevere asks the two closest knights. As they drag him, they still hear Arthur's screams and protests. "Feel free to stay as long as you need, this is your home," she smiles with sweetness and a genuine expression, which is not at all reminiscent of the quiet and submissive queen who slid behind Arthur like a shadow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Thank you," Snow and David respond in unison before watching them go, along with the rest. Camelot, in the dead of night, turned into a village, suddenly brims with more life than they have ever seen, and the Storybrooke citizens are left alone, except for Merlin, who looks at Emma meaningfully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Is there anything I can do for you?" he asks raising an eyebrow. Everyone steps aside, until nothing is between the both of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma takes a breath and whispers, "Can you help me?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""With your darkness?" Emma nods. "I try, but it mostly depends on you. Are you ready?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She swallows deeply, trying to contain her excitement. "I'm ready for whatever it takes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US" "Very well, then," he smiles. "I will need Excalibur," Snow approaches instantly and gives it to him. "And that dagger that has been so well protected," he adds, turning to Regina. She straightens and furrows her brow, her hand immediately drawn to her waist. "They must become one again," he elaborates. Regina remains in the spot and turns to Emma with a questioning look, who gives her a warm smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""We can trust him, Regina," she says./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Despite that her expression doesn't change, Regina finally takes out the dagger, and with a doubtful pause, hands it to Merlin by the hilt. The wizard nods and looks at both weapons. The edges seem to find each other and vibrate gently in his hands. With a click, the hilt of the dagger snaps and falls to floor. The orphaned blade in Merlin's palm now swings more strongly, revealing a ragged, uneven edge. An exact match for the broken end of Excalibur./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Merlin recommends everyone to cover their eyes before bringing the two blades together. It's not just light that emerges from the weapons, but also a vibrant, explosive noise when they melt together, sharp and piercing, like two trains colliding. Then, silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma opens her eyes. Merlin shows everyone the sword, complete and powerful and in all its glory, and she can hardly believe it. "Is that... Is that my name on it?" she asks. Throughout the blade, as was the case with the dagger, her name is engraved, so bright and clear that she feels it challenging her, as if proving that her trial has only just begun./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""That's right," he confirms. "Now that the sword is whole, it has many unique properties, one the being the power of getting rid of the infused darkness. But it's only up to you to make it work and avoid a counter effect./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""What do you mean?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""The complete blade has the power to discern one's true essence from the darkness fueled by the Dark Curse already ingrained in the carrier's self. But only said carrier can decide to get ahold of that true essence and ban the curse forever."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I want that thing gone," she answers with absolute conviction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I know your wishes, Emma, but it's not that simple," he replies cautiously. "If the darkness that nests in you is strong and you don't truly free yourself from it, the sword will be out powered by the curse. What's more troubling, is that the weapon will serve as a catalyst and channel the curse, so it gets anchored to you even more deeply, more… expansively. There will be no room for anything else."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma remains silent, her hands shaking ever so slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Good," Snow whispers, walking up her daughter and putting her hands on her shoulders. "Your light will prevail."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emHa!/em" Rumpelstiltskin laughs against her ear, letting his fetid breath reverberate against her cheek. Emma's not even surprised, as if she was waiting for him, as if she herself had invoked him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Emma, are you sure about this?" /spanMerlin asks softly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"The scaly skin on her arm begins to burn and a twisted chill runs down her spine. She doesn't dare to speak yet, her pulse rears, and Camelot's air is insufficient for her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emThey asked you a question. Why don't you answer?/em" Rumpelstiltskin screeches, dancing around her. em"We don't feel very confident, do we?"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Amid that feeling of anguished oppression, Emma gives him a murderous look, which only complicates everything further./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Emma?" Snow asks stroking her back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emI, me, myself… dah, dah, blah, blah/em" Rumpelstiltskin hums. "emIt's fine. Charismatic otherworldly beings such as ourselves are allowed to be self-centered./em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Love, tell him." A voice rises suddenly among the people gathered there. Hook, pushing his way, walks over to Snow and Emma. "You are the Savior, you are good, don't think about anything else and just tell him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma's eyes turn from Rumpelstiltskin to Hook, but they keep their fiery shine. For a moment, Emma clutches her arm, fearing that all her skin will be infected with scales just from the thoughts crossing her mind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emKill him/em," Rumpelstiltskin proposes with simplicity. Emma looks at him sidelong, and the Imp shrugs innocently. em"It's the most effective way for him to let you think clearly."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"When Hook insists, ordering, "Come on, love. What are you waiting for? Tell him!" Rumpelstiltskin's advice starts seeming very appealing to her. It's precisely that fleeting thought, that toxic but delicious aroma that invites her to solve everything with a simple wish, that twists her insides and increases her despair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma walks away from Hook and his mother, raising her hands, asking for space. With them it works, unlike with the vision of the crocodile, which walks side by side with her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She hesitates and swallows deeply, stroking her narrowed throat. "I don't know," she answers finally, not looking Merlin in the face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emEuphemisms/em," Rumpelstiltskin croons with fuss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"The wizard nods thoughtfully and rests his hands one over the other against the hilt of Excalibur. "Are you afraid you have plunged into darkness?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I fear…" she sighs, before daring to speak. "I fear the darkness is not as alien to me as I wish," she admits, her voice broken./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Emma," Regina's voice opens a soft and shy hole in the night. Emma looks for her face and finds her, mortified, insecure and with her mouth half open. For a moment, Emma fears that she won't say anything else, or that Regina's as concerned about her evilness as she is. But she waits; she waits until Regina takes another breath and feels invited to continue. "It's not part of you. The darkness, it's not part of you, I know. It just hides like a damn coward in your chest, it makes you doubt. But you would never embrace it. I know," she says finally with a thin voice and moist eyes but smiling so sweetly that Emma just wants to bathe in the warmth of her words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""It's true, Ma," Henry adds, hugging Regina's waist and nodding confidently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma sees herself through their eyes, retrieves broken bits of her hope, and tries to smile, but Rumpelstiltskin's voice, penetrating her ear, doesn't grant her any respite: "emPoor innocent souls. If they only knew that you dream of poisoning Hood, gutting Hook./em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma turns her face away, trying to avoid his putrid breath, his fucking words, but can't make them get away from her. "I can't be sure I haven't been already swallowed by the curse," she murmurs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Before Regina can say anything else, she raises the cloth up her arm, revealing the mark of the Dark One on her skin. Scales, even in the moonlight, glow maliciously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"The faces of those around her contract into grimaces of fear and nervousness. Even her parents close their mouths and fix their eyes on her skin. Nobody says anything, but Regina and Henry stand their ground, her faces still bright and proud./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Suddenly, Belle raises her hand and asks to speak with a simple question. "Ehm, is that all?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""What? Emma says, confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I mean, is that all you've got? You don't have any more marks?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""N ... no," she stutters./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I know a way to reduce darkness to its minimum essence. If it could work when Rumpelstiltskin was a crocodile from head to toe, I think it will work when all you've got is that… rash. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"A rash. Her mark of shame, her biggest secret, the horrible consequence of her actions… is a emrash /emfor Belle. She lets go of the fabric from her arm and lets herself to be carried away by that away by the crushing rotundity of her words. "What should I do?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""A kiss will do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""A kiss?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Yes, well, a true love one, sure," Belle specifies, and Emma feels silly. A true love kiss. Could it really work? She looks at the ground, her heart pounding mercilessly again. She can't think of a better antidote, and she lets herself fantasize about that, to the point that her eyes, excited and restless, seek Regina's, who doesn't look back at her. Her face is a hard mask of indolence, but Emma can read her well enough, and she can see through the tiny cracks, she notices the slightest tremor in her lips, and know Regina's… sad./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She hasn't time to dwell in that realization, because Hook's voice rises with a derisive laugh, "What if she already got one and it didn't work?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"At first, Emma is shocked by Hook's open acknowledge of what has really happened between Regina and her, but she soon realizes that he's talking about emhimself/em. About emhim/em true-love-kissing emher/em. The mere idea gets her in the verge of laughing hysterically, but a new thought sends her spiraling down again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Exactly. What if she got her kiss and the darkness is still within her? Is that what Regina's thinking about too? Is that why she radiates that sadness? Emma feels the urge to hug her and tell her that Belle has to be wrong. That, if her kiss didn't work, she's screwed, because no one else's will./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Well, the kiss doesn't really break the curse, contrary to popular belief," Belle says, and gives Regina a sweet smile that seems to be forgiving, for some reason. "But it does shrink it, it helps the bearer to overcome to worst of the curse, let's say."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Well, I don't think I reached that stage either," Emma mutters./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""That might have nothing to do with the… uhm… kiss," Belle replies, her gaze fidgeting between Emma and Hook as if unsure she should grace something between them as true-love-anything. "What I mean, you might have had a true love kiss already, one that could potentially ignite the reversion of the curse, and still be in full Dark One mode."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Belle has such great communicative skills that she finds herself nodding before shaking her head and admitting. "I still don't get it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""The kiss works only if the cursed person is truly willing give up the darkness from their heart," Belle explains, as if it were obvious. "The bearer needs to expose themselves and accept that vulnerability. They need to give up their power and lose control," she elaborates, before shrugging her shoulders and adding, "It's not just any decision. Rumpelstiltskin, as you can imagine, flinched at the thought and refused."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emBullshit!/em" the Imp barks, as if he were the same Rumpelstiltskin Belle is referring to. "emTell me, Savior, are you willing to make a fool of yourself once more?/em"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""I think…" Emma hesitates for a moment, her head racing. Belle has described it in such detail that she has emalmost/em all the answers now. That dark void, that terrifying lack of control, that cliff that opened at her feet when she kissed Regina, her own fear at this and her refusal to let those things swallow her… /span"I think I know what you mean."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emI wouldn't try if I were you, deary,/em" Rumpelstiltskin mussels, crossing his arms mockingly. But his stance brings a new memory to Emma's. One in the middle of the Camelot night, just before opening the door to get out of the high castle wall. To Regina. The Imp had acted exactly the same and had even used nearly the same words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""You're scared of her," she snaps in surprise, turning to him, not caring for once what anyone would think of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emThat's ridiculous. Like you./em" A poisonous growl leaves his throat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""You are!" she laughs. "You never appear when we are alone," she sighs, remembering every moment. "Or maybe you can't even try. Is that it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Who is she talking to?" Snow asks, very softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Her inner demons," Merlin clarifies, asking with a wave of the hand not to interrupt her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emOnly such a ridiculous and sad being like yourself would give credibility to those silly tales! Do you think I'll go because of a stupid kiss? That you will stop desiring my power, that your heart will not hold me anxiously? You are an idiot,/em" he hisses./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""We'll see," she replies, crossing her arms and smiling eagerly. She feels elated, her body fluid and relaxed, and she turns towards her people. "Belle, I don't know how to thank you. But I think it emwill/em work."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""My pleasure," she smiles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""All right, Swan, let's do it," Hook announces, stepping forward. Near him, Hood, ries to hold his arm looking mortified. He calls out to him softly, but Hook dodges him, ignores his voice and advances to the center of the circle formed by the people of Storybrooke. "I'm aware we are not in our best moment, but it doesn't matter. If you trust Belle's advice, we'll do it, love."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma looks at him as if doing it for the first time. Her eyes also drift to Hood and she makes out that uncomfortable shame blazing off him. Finally, out of sheer instinct, she looks at Regina, who appears to be unable to look at Hood, flinching just as awkwardly as he does./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"A fire ignites in her stomach, warming her, as she lets the details entwine and show her the last answer she needed. Regina has to feel the same way Emma does, and she has made Hood aware of it. She feels floating with happiness among the flames inside her, invincible, euphoric. So happy that not even Hook's voice claiming her can ruin this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Swan?" he says, grabbing her arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma takes her eyes off Regina and, patting his hand, shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Killian, but I need this to work."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""What do you mean, love?" he asks, taken aback. Emma's fingers push his hand away and he stiffens. "Where do you think you're...?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"No one pays attention to him while his voice gets lost in the night. Emma walks calmly to Regina and Henry, although at the last moment her son turns away from them. Despite her euphoria and her assurance, Emma feels her cheeks heated when turning to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Will you help me save myself?" she whispers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Only because I owe you one," Regina replies, with a playful and radiant smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""emDon't you dare,/em" Rumpelstiltskin barks, inches from his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma does not look at him, because for the first time, he's not real for her. Only Regina is right now. She's even aware of Hook's expletives anymore, of the curious and bewildered gossip of people watching them, even of Henry's proud gaze./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She approaches Regina unhurriedly and caresses her face. Regina lets herself be done, leaning against her hand and closing her eyes. Emma's lips sigh in anticipation, but she's stopped by those chestnut eyes fixed at her and by that tasty voice, barely a melodious whisper against her mouth, that nonetheless resonates with gravity and delicacy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""It doesn't matter what that damn darkness tries to make you believe. Giving it up is emnot/em losing anything. The power, the security, everything it offers you is nothing more than a mirage for which you need to sacrifice what really matters. Giving up on her is starting to have it all, " she muses, turning even more into Emma's sweet caress. "As an expert on these issues, I think you should listen to this," she adds with a shot laugh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Of course, Madame Mayor," she jokes, and whispers, "Thank you. For everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Oh, Emma," Regina breathes. "The pleasure is all mine." She licks her own lips and cuts the distance between them, still not touching Emma's but offering her the chance to do so./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Emma leans forward, eyes closed, lips parted, her heart racing. The last thing she hears is Rumpelstiltskin's voice yelling, "emSTOP!/em", and then nothing. Her mouth meets Regina's and they finally kiss again. The kiss as if they had done it all their lives, but also as if they had spent entire lives waiting for that moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"It's so delicious, it feels so right and urgent. For a moment, Emma forgets the original reason why they're kissing right now. She just enjoys the softness of Regina's mouth, the delicious breath that mixes with her, the dance beyond all logic in which they engage with such slowness and dedication she thinks her legs might give out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Then, she notices. A cliff that opens at her feet. It's a dark and infinite vastness, one that could swallow her at any moment. A threat without a defined body or shape, that swirls around her heart and screams at her that she will become nothing, that she will be left defenseless, unable to protect her own, forced to watch them die one by one because of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Doubt, sadness, helplessness writhe in her guts and Emma allows vertigo and fear to paralyze her body. It's just a second, a heartbeat, a sigh of doubt, but the darkness doesn't miss its opportunity. It comes back with force, floods her head with black stickiness and her chest with pressing shadows, and Emma wants to crouch down and burst into tears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"Regina's hands go up to her face and neck and tug at her. They claim her with such softness, with such absolute and sincere devotion that the darkness hides, contracts and screams. The cliff no longer looks scary. It's just a tiny leap, one she's delighted to take because she knows what awaits her on the other side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US"She's not aware of when she crosses. She doesn't notice how she leaves the panic behind, nor does she notice the tiny, broken form that the bloody darkness takes. She only fills her lungs more fully than ever, brings Regina closer to her, and, after breaking the kiss, smiles at her with her eyes closed, their foreheads resting together./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Good?" Regina asks with a vibrant tone, while nuzzling Emma./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Very good," she answers, nodding vehemently when words are not enough to describe how light, happy and free her soul is. "I think…", she mutters reluctantly taking her hands away from Regina, so she can pry the sleeve of her dress away. She rotates her forearm two or three times and runs her hand over it to make sure her eyes are not deceiving her. There are no scales, no gloomy marks. Just soft and smooth skin. "I think this is more than good, she adds, swallowing deeply and pressing her lips together to contain the excitement./span/p
p style="text-align: center;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.0cm;"span lang="EN-US""Then let's go for the emcoup de grace/em," she hums, raising an eyebrow and nodding at Merlin, and then gently steps aside. Before letting her go, Emma grabs her hand with a sweet squeeze and Regina returns it by entwining their fingers tenderly./span/p
p style="text-align: center;"emstrongTo be continued.../strong/em/p