1470 Words, this Chapter. Note: There is mention of love here between Emma and Meg. I envisioned it as a loyalty and obedience kind of thing on the part of the darkness, not as a romantic love. It doesn't really matter, if you want to read it romantically go ahead. The outcome will be the same.
Chapter Fifteen, Dark Heart
"I've never felt so nervous knocking on Emma's door," said Mary-Margaret. David was beside her. He smiled reassuringly.
She nodded, knocking again. There was no answer.
David looked back at the others. Killian nodded as did Gold. David looked at his wife, smiled again and then he pushed the door open. They all walked quietly, cautiously inside the large living room. Through the open kitchen door they could see Emma, sitting at the table, staring the other way.
They slowly walked toward her. As they did they saw that Meg stood at the stove, stirring a large pot. Suddenly she stopped. "We have company," she said, without turning around.
Emma turned and gasped. "What the hell are you people doing here?"
"We came to help you," said Mary-Margaret gently.
"I don't need help!"
Mother Superior took a step forward. "Who are you?"
Meg smiled. "I'm Sister Meg," she said innocently. She sneered. "You're getting old, Blue. You never sensed anything, did you?"
Blue stepped forward. "How? How did you fool me, fool all of us?"
Meg laughed. "Sorry, Mum. That's a secret, one you'll discover soon enough. We're almost ready."
"This ends now, Witch."
Meg laughed derisively. "It's just beginning, Pirate." She looked at Emma and smiled. "You can't imagine the giddiness I felt at the savior's touch. I've been cut off from true power for so long! I'd given up hope of ever feeling the joy of turning a light heart dark again."
Gold turned to David. "I think that's a confession."
"Why not? You can't hurt me," Meg gloated. "True, my powers don't work on you so well. I barely got any scuffles at all from touching the townsfolk."
"Until Emma," said Blue.
"Yes. She's rare, you know. Such a pure heart," she said, looking at Emma with a creepy smile. "Like mother, like daughter, I suppose. However, she has unusual qualities her parents lack."
"I didn't expect it, honestly. I had no idea the Savior would be affected so completely." She giggled with glee.
Emma sat there, too far into Meg's power to hear or care how Meg was talking about her. "It's been so achingly long since I've had this kind of influence," said the nun. "Your pathetic hearts used to crumble like ash, now though..."
She looked disdainfully at Blue. "You fairies," she spit. "You had to infect human hearts with goodness, hope, kindness, and worst of all: love. It's disgusting. You ruined so many beautifully corrupted hearts! The more my power drained from them, the weaker I became." She growled. "Oh, I was so weak!" she screamed, glaring hatefully at Blue.
Then she looked at Emma. She smiled and calmed. "Now, though, with the help of Emma Swan...my reign shall begin anew."
"It shall not, witch!" cried Killian.
"Please. You can't stop me. I'm too strong now. The more hatred surges through Emma, the more power surges through me." She giggled, darkly. "Emma's like a battery."
Killian cursed and stepped forward.
"Not yet," said David, grabbing him. "Not until we free Emma." He looked at Gold, specifically, the small, tattered book he held.
"You have much more to worry about then your daughter, Prince. I'm cooking up a fantastically dark spell. Once it's cast the whole town will be awash in anger, hate, and chaos. The more hate, the more people in my power, the stronger I get. I will be..."
"Oh, goodness, she's going to say invincible," Gold said dryly.
"I will be, wizard. Thanks to Emma. Once we're done, I'll have enough strength to feed off all the realms." She glared at Blue. "Not even love will be able to stop it."
"That sounds like a powerful spell," said Gold. "Are you sure you can achieve it?"
Meg smiled. "How did you like the cloud, Wizard? It did a pretty good job on all of you. Imagine that...a million times bigger, strong, darker." She cackled. "I can do it now."
She looked at the Savior. "Now that I have a new, powerful energy source that is." She walked to Emma and stroked her dirty black hair. "She is a godsend!" Meg giggled. "That's a bit ironic, isn't it?"
The others glared at her.
Meg smiled. "You know, you're all sending me some delightful rays of hate. Thank you."
Blue chuckled. "Enjoy it. Once we've stopped you we'll send rays of love your way."
Meg gagged. "Don't threaten me!" she cried with a cackle.
"You...are so evil," said Blue. "How? How can this be! I would have known!"
"Hmm, I doubt it. You're a crusty old relic," sneered Meg. "Me, I'm born anew and with Emma, I can finally realize my dreams. As for the spell, Wizard, well, I've been around a long, long time, in various forms and strengths. I've learned a few tricks. I never had the strength to try such a feat. Now, though, I do. In fact, I just added the last ingredient: a lock of Emma's hair. That is her new improved, hate corrupted hair."
Killian growled. "I swear upon all that is sacred, I will free Emma from you."
Meg smirked with evil. "You? Please, she hates you, her parents, even Henry. You're the ones in the most danger from her. Free her? Try to free yourselves. Once the potion is done cooking, you'll all have hearts as black as her."
They all eyed the pot. Meg watched them, quite amused.
At once, David and Killian jumped forward toward the stove.
They nearly ran into Emma. "Back!" she cried.
"Don't touch her!" yelled Gold.
"Emma, don't let them stop us!" Meg cried.
"I won't."
"Emma, you don't want this," said Mary-Margaret.
"Yes I do."
David scoffed. "There's no way you want to hurt the entire town."
Emma frowned. "No, I just want you to leave me alone. Leave us alone."
"Don't let them fool you," said Meg. Then she decided to play the part of victim. "They're here to hurt me, Emma."
"No, we aren't. She's the dangerous one here," said David. "Not us."
"She's not dangerous!" shouted Emma.
"Really, Miss Swan? She means to poison the entire town," said Gold.
Emma frowned. "No, she wouldn't..."
"She just told us her plans, Love."
"Emma, dear, they're trying to confuse you," said Meg. "They want me to be the villain."
"You aren't."
Gold sighed. "She seems to have impaired the Sheriff's judgment."
"Yes, and her magic power does not appear to be working," said Killian. "She cannot discern what is true."
"I would never hurt anyone, certainly not you," Meg said sweetly to Emma.
Emma nodded.
"They need to leave, Emma. Make them."
"I will, Meg."
"Emma, please, listen..." began Killian.
"No! I'm done! I'm done listening to you, Killian. I'm done being with you. I'm done with you. Period. Get out of my life!"
His heart nearly stopped. His face twisted with pain. He took a step closer to her. "Emma, you're not yourself," he said calmly.
She scoffed. "Please, just because I finally see you for what you are, you think I'm not myself."
"Emma, he's right," said her mother. "You're under a spell."
Emma shook her head. "I am so done with all of you." She looked over at Meg and laughed derisively. "You actually think this sweet woman, the only true friend I have put me under some evil enchantment?"
"Yes," said Killian.
"Emma, stay strong," said Meg, touching her hand.
The shadow spread over her skin.
Killian growled. "Emma, you must get away from that woman."
Emma stared at him. "No. I told you to leave."
"We won't, not until you're safe," said David.
Meg sighed. "Emma, dear, I'm afraid they won't listen." Emma nodded. "You'll have to persuade them."
Emma looked at her. She seemed reluctant. Meg touched her again, kissed the top of her head, and shadow washed over Emma again.
Suddenly Emma stepped forward, pulling her gun.
"Oh, my God! Emma!" screamed Mary-Margaret.
"What are you doing?" asked David, in disbelief. He stepped in front of his wife as Gold did with Belle.
Killian moved a bit in front of them all. "Don't do this, Love. You don't want to hurt us."
Emma faltered a bit. "No..."
"Emma, you're my friend," said Meg. "Protect me."
"Of course I will."
"Good." The nun's eyes fell on Killian. They darkened and she grinned sickeningly. "The pirate, he means to hurt me, Emma. Stop him. Prove to me you love me. Shoot him."
The doubt left Emma Swan's face and she nodded, squarely aiming the gun at Killian Jones.
End of Chapter Fifteen