Summary: Emma finally tells the truth to her friends about the price of saving there lives - As moments from there past where erased in order to turn back the clock they never meet Mulan (This happened in previous fic). Then in an attempt to summon the Dark One for help they find themselves separated in a mysteries dark maze, repressed or lost memories from there past brought to the surface.
Red marched forwards fists clenched, she could feel the wolf begging to come out to run, but she pushed it down. Despite everything, she couldn't deny the desperate need to belong in the pack, a chance to get to know her mother. A person she had put away in a box at the corner of her mind. Now it was wide open and her pain and longing only increased.
"That was badass, but we need to go north". Killian said as they caught up to Red.
"What"? Red said her heart pounding she turned to realise she had been walking in the wrong direction.
"This way" Killian said, gesturing to her left.
Red nodded and they continued north together, the forest floor uneven and rocky, with large trees that had fallen blocking the path. They didn't talk much, there thoughts all reeling trying to understand, what was going on, why the dark one was in the enchanted forest.
"What if the dark one came through the same portal we did, he could have brought others with him"
"I don't think so Emma"
"I just wish we had some answers"
"I might have some". Red
"What do you mean"? Emma said, with a frown sensing her friends fear.
"It was Anita that opened the portal, she cast some kind of spell supposed to help you find a blood relative, but as we were in another realm it pulled us through the doorway, that's why we're all trapped here because of me, I, I swear if I had any idea, I never would have…"
"Stop none of this is your fault". Elsa
"There is no way you could have known, what would happen, when you entered that room" Killian added smiling.
Reminiscing on that happy moment him and Red sharing a sip of rum, as they made their way through the halls of the sorceress mansion, Killian smiled.
"While we're at it.. I have something to confess, one of the reasons we may be feeling so lost, it's not just because were in another world, our group is one member down, but you all don't remember…. because of me, Mulan never became our friend".
"What do you mean"? Elsa asked as Emma looked to her tears welling in her eyes.
"I tried to tell you at the party right after I realised, but then the portal, everything got so messed up…. when I was in the time loop, it had consequences, every hour I turned back, one hour was taken from my past, nothings free, especially when it involves magic".
They looked to Emma as this sunk in, not having considered themselves the price of turning the magic hourglass, saving the lives of Elsa, Killian, Snow White and the Prince, would be the loss of someone else precious.
"I'm sorry". Emma
"You should have told us; you can tell me anything" Killian
Killian gasped placing his hand on Emma's cheek, wondering how someone could feel so guilty after experiencing the horror of watching him, her friend and parents turned to ash and doing whatever it takes to save them.
"Elsa, you need to understand you and Mulan, weren't just friends".
Elsa went pale but her expression was one of relief the last few days she thought she was going mad, missing something, someone she couldn't remember, now it was clear. Silent for a moment she shook her head before smiling slightly and looking at her friend with understanding and frustration.
"You had to make a choice, it wasn't an easy one, I can't say... what I would have done, but you should have told me sooner"
"That's too heavy of a weight to carry, on your own" Red added.
The four of them gathered closer and arm on each shoulder, they stood for a moment in silence letting themselves feel there pain. Eventually they let go and began to continue forwards as the forest only became denser.
"Wait Emma, you said you lost an hour for every time you turned the hourglass, so that's three hours"
"Yes, one with Mulan the other two with my parents I think, as if we haven't lost enough time already"
"What time with them, did you lose?"
"I haven't figured that out yet, I still remember meeting them it can't be that bad"
"You must have lost something, there's always a price"
"I just need to find them first; I'll worry about the rest later"
Emma never liked long walks, they reminded her she was on her own, so as they trekked through the forest her thoughts wondered back to Storybrooke. Exiting the doors of Storybroke high, her father would be waiting for her, in the police cruiser. It always felt so safe and cozy just them and the radio, sometimes they even stopped for a milkshake. Suddenly breaking her from her daydream, a twig sticking out from a nearby tree scratched her forehead as she walked by.
"Killian, I thought you said it wasn't that far". Emma complained.
"Only, another hour or so, were making great time". Killian said looking back with an encouraging smile.
"I'm starving, do you think the dark one, will have good snacks in his castle"? Red
"I don't think immortal wizards need to eat, or sleep". Elsa
"Great, what about Belle, I always see her snacking in the library". Emma
Elsa shuffled her hand through the satchel, having put the rest of the bread in it before they left the den, knowing this was bound to happen.
"That's the last of it". Elsa said handing it out, without making eye contact with Emma.
"Thanks" Emma
"Maybe we should have got more supplies, before leaving the pack". Elsa huffed her anxiety rising, not adjusting to their circumstances, requiring routine in her day.
"I don't think that, would have gone down well". Killian said.
"They don't trust outsiders; the curse ripping most people away from this land has only made tensions worse, those knights didn't care about us, they just wanted to lore the wolves, to trap them". Red explained.
"Sorry Red, I didn't mean to imply". Killian began to say.
"It's ok, I understand"
"Wait were forgetting something". Emma
"What now"? Elsa asked frustrated.
"We don't need to find the Dark one, we can call him to us". Emma
"No, if you summon the dark one, he will expect something in return". Killian
"Normally I'd agree, but right now our plan is breaking into his castle". Red replied with a shrug.
"I'll do it…. Rumpelstiltskin" Elsa hesitantly said.
The four teenagers had stopped walking, eagerly looking around to see if the dark wizard was nearby, hoping he wouldn't be alone.
"You need to say it three times". Red.
"Rumpelstiltskin…. RUMPLESTLITSKIN" Elsa continued.
There was nothing but silence, even the wind stopped there was no rustling of leaves or twitter of birds just silence and no sign of the dark one. They continued forwards making their way to the top of a hill, overlooking a mist coated valley.
"Ummm, that's new". Red said her eyes wide looking ahead.
"I don't understand, where is he"? Killian asked bewildered.
Ahead there was a break in the trees before a small decline, leading into a maze of vines and bush, so vast it disappeared into the fog, appearing to be endless.
"What is this, I don't remember a maze"
"This wasn't here before the curse?" Emma
"It has been sixteen years, enough time to grow a maze, maybe" Red
"We should just try go around" Killian
They turned their heads, looking in either direction the large wall of thorns and green leaves went as far as the eye could see.
"Doesn't seem to be an option" Elsa.
"Should we go inside, maybe there is a way through, I'm sure I can sniff it out" Red said, as she inhaled deep trying to get a sense of what was ahead.
"No not with the crocodile lurking about, this could be a trap" Killian
"I don't think he wants to hurt us; I think he's trying to find us" Emma said.
"Leaving a trail of bodies in his wake" Killian added.
"Guys pay attention" Elsa warned, as they world seamlessly shifted around them.
Breaking eye contact with Killian, Emma looked at her surroundings, to find herself and her friends now in the maze, despite not having moved their feet at all.
"What's going on"? Red said alarmed
"I don't know this is creepy." Emma stated.
"Let's go back, now". Killian
Emma turned around heading back the way she assumed they came, however as she turned the corner, she felt a sharp pain on her hand, when one of the thorns nicked her palm.
"Arrgh" Emma said, observing the wound, it stung but it wasn't deep.
"Hey guys, be careful, these bushes have thorns".
Emma heard a slight rustling sound, looking up from her hand after she wiped away the blood, only to find she was completely alone.
"Guys…. Killian"
Emma turned around but every direction looked the same and now she was unsure where she'd just come from, while the mist bellowed in, around her ankles.
"You think they'd follow you… maybe there sick of being led astray, lied to". A sinister voice whispered to her, it was familiar, it was her own voice inside her head.
Images of of her father his expression frustrated driving through the forest of Stoorybrooke in his truck, then her mother standing under an umbrella in the rain by the Storybrooke bus stop offering her shelter.
"Help! please anybody"
Emma snapped back to reality as the vines closed in and her magic shield of white light expanded outward, protecting her. Emma started to become more and more disorientated to the point of nausea, she held her hand to her head, watching the world spin, taking one more step forward. It was one too many and she fell to her knees in the dirt, the energy required to get up from the ground out of her reach, her limbs numb.
"I'm sorry, I failed"
The sparkling lights above started to become blurry before being replaced by a familiar face, her shield faded immediately. He smiled looking down at Emma, she recognised his eyes first and sandy hair, her whole body relaxed. Letting herself fade away to unconsciousness, now safe in his arms, he lifted her up off the ground.
"Dad" Emma mumbled.
"Emma" Killian yelled over and over his voice becoming raspier each time but there was no response.
"Swan"! He yelled, while his eyes welled up.
"She went that way, a moment ago, now there's a wall". Elsa said bewildered.
"SWAN" Killian yelled again.
"What's happening"? Red asked.
"Grab my hand". Elsa encouraged.
The three stood hands in hook back-to-back, there careful eyes on the vines surrounded them, they looked deceivably still, but they were very alive. Patiently waiting for the optimum moment to strike, knowing the three teens already grew weary.
"We should run, find Emma" Killian suggested.
"There's no way I'm going to let a bush, stop me from saving my best friend". Elsa agreed.
Icicles appeared in the air around them, just as the sentient plant vines swiped like tentacles, trying to grab them. The ice flying through the air, cutting the vines as they approached, but they were growing at a much faster rate than Elsa could manage.
"Just stick together, it's trying to break us apart" Red yelled.
"We never should have tried to summon the dark one" Killian yelled.
They couldn't keep hold of each other while the vines began wrapping around their ankles, pulling Killian off his feet he was dragged away, fruitlessly using his hook to hack at the plant. In seconds he vanished, disappearing into the clear white mist, just like Emma.
"No" Elsa yelled running forwards and letting go of Reds hand.
However as she ran into the mist it dissipated, she frantically looked around there was no sign of Killian, not even drag marks in the dirt. A vine whipped around, and a thorn dug into the back of her neck, before she was able to freeze it solid.
"No Killian, Red"
Noises echoed around her, instinctively she recognised the sound of a rubber ball, swatting her in the head. Each time she heard the sound she could feel it, hitting her as she turned to see where it came from another would hit her from the opposite side.
"Stop"!
Looking around bewildered there was no ball in fact the was nothing, not even foot prints in the dirt just the mist and the vines.
"Come out, why are you hiding"?
"You hide" a snickering voice whispered.
This voice wasn't external but it came from inside her head, the ball everything that was happening, wasn't real.
"Poison" Elsa gasped looking at her arm were the thorn pricked her skin.
This realization came to late however and she collapsed flat onto her back into the dirt, the vines creeping ever closer.
"No, I said stay together". Red yelled as Elsa disappeared.
An overwhelming stinging sensation took over her senses and she looked down at her legs, covered in small cuts from the thorns on the vines.
"Great" she sniffed the air "Poison".
Adrenaline pumping, she could feel it coursing through her veins and to her brain quickly, she didn't have enough time to transform. A wolf snarled at her from behind, Red turned around to see nothing there then again from her left. Soon she begun twirling around in a frenzy not able to trace the orientation of the growling, it seemed as if it was all around her.
"Mom no, don't go"
It was her voice calling out, a memory long forgotten something deeply repressed, but now it was right on the surface. Stepping forward she could see crystal white snow under her tiny toddler sized feet and the bright red blood that soaked into the ground.
"What's happening"?
This vision became fuzzy as she reached forwards, desperate to know more. In an instant it faded away and she collapsed to the ground.
Killian swung his arm fiercely slicing through the vines with his hook, agile from years of sword fighting he managed to dodge the poisonous thorns, while breaking free from their grasp on him. Getting up from the ground Killian began to sprint, he's keen survival instinct telling him to run.
"Keep, turning left"
He said it like a mantra slicing with his Hook as he continued forward, knowing there must be some meaning to this madness. The harsh realities of this realm had become new to him again, this world of enchantment foreign and unforgiving.
"I can feel it, just a little further, I know what your protecting"
There was a great darkness ahead of him, but it was familiar unlike the mist and the vines that pursued him now. As if the devil himself was whispering in his ear, it stirred him forwards, he knew exactly what was calling to him. Just in sight in the distance coated in fog, he could see the black handle and silver blade resting on a podium.
"The dagger"
Killian began moving at twice the speed, their only opportunity to escape this hell, was only getting further away. The path ahead slimmed as the green walls began to close in on him, the thorns now unavoidable as he scathed in-between the hedges. It didn't matter to Killian he just needed to hold it in his hands, their salvation was now just out of reach and yet, still he hesitated for a second before taking it.
"I can't believe, I'm about to do this"
Already he felt the disorientating effects of the poison and he gripped the handle, expecting to feel the power, but it was just as cold and heavy as any other blade he'd held. Until it whispered again, trying to coax Killian to take the power for himself, he turned the blade in his hand glimpsing the name and he gasped.
"No this, must be the poison, it's not real, it's not…"
But in truth this all made sense now, rationally at least, the arrows, the missing red jacket, why Rumpelstiltskin did not appear when they called his name. Killian sighed accepting that he would be unconscious soon, all he could do was call out one name, there last hope.
"Snow White, I summon thee"
Killian breathed out holding the dagger high and gripping it tight, before he collapsed onto the dirt, the vines wrapping around his torso pulling him into the mist.
Notes: Multiple plotlines happening that will all be dealt with, Red and Anita and the truth of why her mother left, Elsa and Mulan will be reunited again, Killians mistrust of the dark one, Emma is about to be reunited with her family but finding each other, is only the begging of the problems this time.
Let me know if your interested, PS I'm going full ham on this dark Snow plot we will be ripping out hearts and breaking them