The Dark Swan
A guest asked for a oneshot based on the promos from Season five. High 5 guest! So, goes without saying but I shall say it anyway, spoilers ahead! I'm sorry I can't do Ginny's brilliant, heart-wrenching intonations justice :(.
"Snow, you know that isn't going to work." Charming said gently, plucking the dagger from Snow's hand. "It can't transport her across realms. At least for now, we know she's safe." Daggers might not be able to transport across realms, but most magical creatures could. One such creature- was a phoenix. It couldn't carry people, but it could relay messages. Snow and Charming had received a message tied to the leg of a phoenix that after being transformed into the Dark One, Emma had appeared in Rumplestiltskin's old cell. She had been found by one of the few people who hadn't been taken by the curse, and the people there were looking after her. It appeared she had little memory of her old self, and that she had been taken in by the darkness. Charming pushed the piece of parchment and pen over to Snow. "They say if we write a message back they'll read it to her. Go on, Snow. You always had a way with words. We will bring Emma home and we will make her good again, but until then send her a message. It's all you can do for now." Snow wiped the tears falling from her eyes and shakily picked up the pen. Charming was right, she had to do this. She had to have some sort of communication with her daughter. She had to try and convince her to hang on in there and stay good until they found Merlin. Snow began to write
Once upon a time, a lost soul was drawn to a mysterious town. That town desperately needed a saviour; and you were that saviour, Emma, do you remember? We needed you to believe, and you did. But something happened along the way. The endless battles against the forces of evil…took their toll. Was it the lies? The loss? The struggle for love? Something opened your heart to the shadows.
No one knows the lure of evil more than I. I have felt its embrace, now I'm here to implore: remember who you are, Emma Swan. Resist temptation. Step back into the light. I will not lose my daughter. My child. My hope. To darkness.
Please, stay strong. We will find you, and we will bring you home.
Yours, always,
Mama
Snow attached the letter back to the phoenix's leg and watched as it soared off, back to the Enchanted Forest. Back to her daughter. She buried her face against Charming's chest.
"I want her back." She wept.
"I know." Charming replied softly, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I do too. And we will get her back, Snow. I promise. She'll be home safe with us soon. I won't rest until she is. I want my baby back too." And together they just stood there in silence, drawing as much comfort from the other as was possible.